Who We Are
Our Board of Directors and Staff
President
Mary Ellen King
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Individual action matters: When I met the River Otter Ecology Project folks over a dozen years ago, it was clear that this was an organization getting things done! It had inspired leadership and committed community science volunteers who were making a difference — furthering our understanding of the natural world and how it supports us.
‘A pebble dropped into water, expanding circles of energy, waves reflecting the light, the source of inspiration multiplied and verified.’ This is how I see ROEP today at the launch of our “Otters for Waters” project.
I firmly believe that individual actions can have power and influence on big problems. I look forward to helping inspire ROEP’s family of friends and supporters at this time of both peril and opportunity! We can all truly create a ‘ring of bright water’.
Vice President
Christine Banzon
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Nature heals: “Before the pandemic, I filled my life with long work hours and a dreadful commute. When the pandemic hit and my work went fully remote, I found myself with free time and a renewed perspective on how to spend that time. I replaced my commute with nature walks and it was during one of these walks that everything changed. While walking by a local pond on a summer eve, I spotted an otter mom with three rambunctious pups happily swimming, eating, and playing. I committed then to spending as much time as I could spotting otters and discovered River Otter Ecology Project. Along the way, I also discovered I was becoming more attuned to all aspects of nature surrounding me – birds, plants, the changing seasons, and more. My life is now filled with natural wonder, curiosity, and connection. I hope I can help and inspire others in finding their own meaningful connection with nature and even themselves.”
Treasurer
Colleen Haraden-Gorski
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Sighting by sighting: “While paddling along Lagunitas Creek I heard the chirping of River Otters and saw a young family popping behind the reeds completely vanishing from view, except for mom who led me away from her little family. I was already a huge fan girl of the River Otter Ecology Project and River Otters, so I knew to add my sighting to the Otter Spotter page. A few weeks later I saw another River Otter near Berkeley Marina. Each sighting was a little gift and I look forward to seeing more. While growing up in San Diego, 1970s onward, I observed the pelican populations coming back after nearly being wiped out by DDT exposure. Seeing this population bounce back was hopeful and exciting — I have the same excitement and hopefulness where River Otters are concerned.”
Co-founder, Executive Director, Director
Megan Isadore
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Love at first sight: “The first time I saw river otters was early on a cold winter morning, from the banks of Lagunitas Creek. A sinuous line of four hunted their way back and forth across the narrow river, nosing under every rock and tree root. Their military formation was impressive! Every so often they chirped back and forth to each other, and every so often, one came up with a crayfish, which was dispatched with noisy crunching gusto. Enthralled, I followed them from a distance for a good half hour, until they stopped on a gravel bar to groom and roll, then disappeared into the willows.”
Co-founder, Research Director, Board Director
Terence Carroll
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Nature remembers: “While traveling back and forth to Point Reyes Station, I would often stop at Olema Marsh. There was a small pond where sometimes I would see a family of river otters. I started to think in a different way about conserving habitat. Olema Marsh hadn’t been protected as a place to restore an otter population. The marsh — the habitat — was there, and the otters found their way back, as if they remembered where they came from. Over the years, that small pond progressed into a different kind of wetland, and the otter family moved on. But the idea that nature remembers where it came from has stayed with me as the touchstone of the conservation work I do.”
Director
NoahLani Litwinsella
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Unexpected Joy: Otters turn up when you least expect them, bringing with them a sense of delight and unforgettable memories. One of my most surprising encounters happened while I was rock climbing in Smith Rock, Oregon. Pausing for a moment on the cliff face, I glanced down at the Crooked River winding far below. To my amazement, a family of otters was frolicking in the water—graceful, playful, utterly captivating. I watched for a long time, enchanted by their antics. An otter sighting is always a gift—a joyful reminder of the wildness and vitality of our local waterways, and a testament to why otters are such powerful ambassadors for their ecosystems.
Director
Emma Sharpe
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I found my group: I first heard of ROEP when I was looking for a summer internship during college. I had never seen a river otter before but I thought it sounded like an interesting way to spend the summer and get some experience in field research. But what I found was much more than that. I discovered a group of people who were passionate about our waterways and the animals that live there. I also discover what a uniquely wonderful animal the river otter is.
One of my favorite memories of river otters: I was out scouting for signs of them around Phoenix Lake on Mt. Tam. I heard this extraordinarily loud chewing noise emanating from the water. I was curious who could possibly be chewing that loud when I suddenly realized it was an otter mom chowing down on some poor aquatic invertebrate! I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. She was enjoying a lovely (and crunchy) afternoon snack with all the abandon I might have standing over the kitchen sink with a bag of chips.
Director
Ramon Townsend
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Long-time friendship: Megan, Terence and I have been friends since we met at the College of William and Mary. I was a pre-law student. Over the years I learned that they were involved in environmental work in their area, and I applauded their efforts. I grew up in a rural area that was becoming suburbanized and my family was very environmentally conscious. There was a time in college I considered becoming a conservationist, but I stayed with the law curriculum and eventually went to law school. One of my electives in law school was Environmental Law; it was one of my three favorite classes. I didn’t become an environmental lawyer but I always retained my interest in the field. For me climate change is the number one issue facing the planet. I live in the Philadelphia area and I’m looking forward to supporting ROEP’s efforts to nationalize from here on the East Coast.
Director
Jeffrey Wang
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Connecting with something deep within: “As a kid, one of my favorite pastimes was to trek through the quiet streams on the outskirts of Beijing observing the small critters living within them. As I got older, I got to live across many different cities and learned to appreciate nature in all its forms. From the towering redwood forests in California to the sunny desert landscapes in New Mexico, my time in the wilderness always brought me a deep sense of serenity. It felt like I was connecting with something pure and primal that I had lost touch with living in an urban landscape. To this day, that sense of serenity has been an anchor for me in my daily life, reminding me of the important things on this planet and in this life, and what needs to be carried forward.”
Emeritus Board of Directors
- Richard Abramson
- Robert Aston
- Sharon Barnett
- Ignacio Chapela
- Barry Deutsch
- Ceci Herrmann
- Craig Nikitas
- Christian Naventi
- Stori Oates
Our Advisory Board
Science Advisors
- Sarah Allen, PhD – Senior Scientist, Point Reyes National Seashore (Retired)
- Frank Cipriano, PhD – Research Associate, Center for Comparative Genomics, and Academy Fellow, California Academy of Sciences
- Nicole Duplaix, FLS, FRGS – Co-Chair, IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group, Senior Instructor Fisheries & Wildlife Dept., Oregon State University
- Heide Island, PhD – Comparative Behavior and Neuroscience Professor, Pacific University, Senior Research Associate, Oregon Zoo
- Thomas Serfass, PhD – Professor of Wildlife Ecology, Frostburg State University; North American Coordinator for the Otter Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC
- Brenden Collett-Grether, MS Candidate, SF State University, 2027.
In Memorium
Rich Stallcup – PRBO Conservation Science naturalist and founder, with respect. Rich will always be in our hearts.
Emeritus
- John P. Kelly, PhD – Director, Conservation Science, Audubon Canyon Ranch, Cypress Grove Research Center
- Brian Simison, PhD – Director and Curator California Academy of Sciences Genetics
Our Partners
Our science and education partners are vital to our work. As a community science project, we are committed to including a broad range of organizations in our web of relationships. As community educators, we continue to expand our ability to connect with individuals, schools and universities.
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- The Marine Mammal Center
- Curiodyssey
- Friends of the Verde River
- The Elizabeth River Project
- Vladnais Lake Area Management Association
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
- Audubon Canyon Ranch
- Tomales High School
Our Business Supporters
Our business supporters kindly offer everything from donated food and drink to artwork to matching donations. We’re very grateful for the broad support for our community of scientists, businesses, and conservationists working together to protect our shared watersheds.
Marin Nature Adventures JACQUELINE JONES DESIGN Dick Sakahara Design 
The River Otter Ecology Project is a registered 501 (c)(3) EIN #45-4997526 non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of river otters and our watershed. Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization.
© 2026 River Otter Ecology Project