About Our Staff

Pam Young is an aviculturist, birding guide, and environmental law specialist who worked for many years as a bird curator at zoos including the Toledo Zoo and Dallas Zoo. Her skills with birds include rescue and rehabilitation, reproduction in captivity for re-population programs, and falconry. As a member of several working groups, Pam participated in the recovery of the California Condor, proposals for breeding and reintroducing the Black-capped Vireo, field studies on Prairie Falcons, and behavioral studies of breeding Roseate Spoonbills. Among her consulting activities, Pam was a reviewer of the Wild Bird Conservation Act for the U.S. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and a member of the International Advisory Committee for the National Avian Research Centre in Abu Dhabi. She studied avian ecology as an undergraduate and earned a J.D. in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. Pam may be contacted at pyoung@goldengateaudubon.org.

Catherine Millar is GGAS’s Director of Development.  Catherine grew up in northern New Jersey. From a young age she was interested in the visual arts and went on to study printmaking and sculpture at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Soon after moving to California, she joined Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, as Administrative Director and became Executive Director the next year. Seven years later, Catherine joined the Exploratorium as Associate Director of Development. Thus began an unanticipated career in non-profit fundraising. Since that time, she has been Director of Development at Chabot Space and Science Center, Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Oakland Museum of California, and Richmond Art Center. She still finds time for painting and drawing, practices and teaches yoga, and enjoys hikes in the East Bay Regional Park system. You can email Catherine at cmillar@goldengateaudubon.org.

Melissa Ramos is a Dominican-American writer from the East Coast. She holds both a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing. She is as passionate about the literary arts as she is about birds. She wants to help promote equal access to nature and the outdoors. With career experience ranging from teaching ESL to advertising to writing and directing commercials, Melissa understands the power of storytelling. Her goal at GGAS is to amplify the voices of birders of color through blogs, social media, events promotion, and other projects. Melissa enjoys practicing judo, boxing, and MMA in her free time. Her favorite bird is the Mourning Dove. Melissa can be contacted at mramos@goldengateaudubon.org.

Clayton Anderson joined Golden Gate Audubon in 2017. He is an environmental educator and professional artist who became a naturalist and birder as a child, although he didn’t get his first pair of binoculars until graduating from high school. Clay worked his way through San Jose City College, then transferred to San Jose State University, graduating with a B.A. in Drawing and Painting. He has worked with a number of environmental education organizations, including California State Parks and Recreation, East Bay Regional Park District and The Oakland Museum. Clay may be contacted at canderson@goldengateaudubon.org.

Meshay Turner is a Bay Area native who is passionate about family, music, culture, and community. Her goal is to maintain superb professionalism alongside assisting others, whether at work or in her daily life. Meshay studied management at Laney College. She applies over 10 years of experience to her position at GGAS, including management experience at Pacific Maritime Association and Tesla. Working at GGAS allows Meshay to make an impact on environmental conservation, another one of her passions. She is also a full time, proud aunt who is helping her nieces and nephews learn the importance of conservation. Meshay may be contacted at mturner@goldengateaudubon.org or at ggas@goldengateaudubon.org.

Janet Carpinelli is GGAS’s Volunteer Services Manager. She thanks her parents for her lifelong love of all creatures and the great outdoors! Janet grew up on Long Island, NY, and enjoyed wandering the fields and woods near her home with friends and siblings. She was involved in environmental advocacy, politics, and art throughout her high school and college years, culminating her studies in her BFA Degree in Painting. Eventually, she moved to San Francisco, where she has been an advocate for open space and wildlife habitat preservation, as well as for affordable neighborhood housing. Prior to her current position, Janet spent three years working with and leading GGAS volunteers in ongoing habitat restoration and shoreline cleanup projects across the Bay Area. Janet enjoys being outdoors with GGAS volunteers and sees that they are well appreciated. Janet may be contacted at jcarpinelli@goldengateaudubon.org or at volunteer@goldengateaudubon.org.