Jen is a wildlife ecologist passionate about helping carnivores and people coexist. She has contributed to interdisciplinary conservation science, policy and grant programs on five continents addressing human-wildlife conflict, wildlife trafficking, protected area management and policy protections for threatened species including sea otters, black-footed ferrets, pumas, tigers, leopards, African lions, songbirds and pheasants. Prior to joining WCN, Jen worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a program officer managing grants on international wildlife trafficking and with Defenders of Wildlife and Panthera as a scientist advancing carnivore research, policy and conservation. Jen grew up on the Northern California coast tidepooling with urchins and other sea otter prey, and went on to earn a BA in organizational biology from Claremont McKenna College and a PhD in wildlife ecology from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. She enjoys meditating, kayaking, birdwatching and traveling the world in pursuit of delicious street food.