BOARD MEMBERS
Devoted environmentalists who encourage young people to take action!
Meet the Board Members of Action For Nature, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit based in San Francisco, California, USA. Learn more about our story and our founder, Shimon Schwarzschild.
Beryl Kay, President
Beryl Kay is a former Executive Director of the San Francisco Family Foundation which provides support for senior citizens in the Bay Area. She retired as Human Resources Director of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. In the private sector, she has held positions in business relations and administrative management. She was a 20-year board member, president, and volunteer with American Youth Hostels.
Bruce Stegiel
Nonprofit fundraiser and former lobbyist. Previous nonprofits include Sacramento Nuclear Weapons Freeze (board member), Students United for Peace, California Public Interest Research, Neighbor to Neighbor, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Opera, and American Conservatory Theater. As a paralegal, worked for plaintiff law firms on asbestos and breast implant claim litigation. B.A. California State University, English and Political Science.
Chris Giorni
Chris Giorni
Chris, or "Mr. Science" founded Tree Frog Treks in 1999. He received his undergraduate degree in Zoology from UC Berkeley and his Master's degree in Biology from San Francisco State University. He has been active in the area of education since 1989, teaching science at the kindergarten through adult level. Working as a professional biologist, Chris has had the opportunity to study lizards in the Dominican Republic, coral reef fish off of Lizard Island n Australia, and amphibians and reptiles in many areas throughout California. He has worked with Gary Fellars on the Global Amphibian decline task force, studied San Francisco garter snakes in San Mateo County state parks, and is presently involved in local amphibian restoration projects. Born and raised in San Francisco, Chris has always been fascinated with animal life and never missed an opportunity to go camping or fishing. Chris teaches and leads adventure treks with Tree Frog Treks all over the Bay Area. He currently serves as chairman of the Board for Endangered Species International.
Barbara Wein
Barbara Wein
Barbara is recently retired from a lifetime career in education and non-profit services. From teaching, she had various educational and administrative positions at community based organizations in San Francisco, and worked for Northern California Grantmakers as program staff. She then served as Executive Director of the Children's Council of San Francisco, and subsequently as Executive Director of the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA. There she developed four hostels and created an environmental and outdoor education program targeted to inner city youth, which is now in its 30th year. After 25 years at the regional helm, Barbara completed her career at the national HI-USA organization as Senior Advisor, working on special projects and fund development. In her spare time she enjoys travel, cooking, photography, and piano.
Kat Morgan
Kat is a certified California Naturalist and Climate Steward. She is a butterfly counter, a Western Monarch docent, a pollinator advocate, and a sea otter spotter. She finds hope in conservation work. Kat is also a mural hunter, public art documentarian, photographer, and public art advocate. She lives along Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA with her wife and their four-legged companions. Follow her on Instagram at @PublicArtLover and @MuralsofMontereyCounty.
“One of my favorite things about being a Naturalist is helping people fall in love, or more deeply in love, with Nature. I am inspired when people see themselves as part of this interdependent web and hopeful when I see them take action. Every time we see a Brown Pelican, California Condor, Peregrine Falcon, American Alligator, American Bald Eagle, Southern Sea Otter, Humpback Whale, or Monarch Butterfly, we see the results of people intentionally working together in a concerted way to protect other living creatures.”
Brigette Hunley
Brigette Hunley has over 25 years of experience in Clean Technology, Technology Policy, and Environmental Advocacy. She chairs the California Science and Technology Caucus and serves on several key committees, including the State of California Educational Technology Task Force. Brigette’s extensive background includes advising Presidential administrations and co-founding the California Leadership Network. She is a passionate advocate for clean technology and digital equity. Brigette enjoys life with her wonderful husband, daughter, and two adorable OciCats, Momo and Zuzu.
Shreya Ramachandran
Since winning an Eco-Hero Award in 2017 for her greywater research, Shreya Ramachandran has championed water conservation through The Greywater Project, reaching schools and communities nationwide. Now at Stanford, she's Director of Students for a Sustainable Stanford and serves on the Climate Advisory Board. Featured widely, including in National Geographic and Emmy-nominated Feast or Famine: California's Water Crisis, Shreya brings fresh perspectives and energy to Action For Nature.
ANDREW LEONARD
Andrew Leonard is a former Eco-Hero award winner for his project on getting two schools in the Bay Area and Beijing to collaborate on environmental issues. After winning the award he studied at Columbia University and received a degree in Political Science. Andrew has since moved back to the Bay Area to work for Google on their Agency Development team. In his spare time, Andrew likes to hang out with his dog and play as much basketball as possible.
LAILA MOIRE-SELVAGE
Laila fostered a deep love for Nature from a young age growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii. After graduating from the University of California Berkeley with a B.A. in Media Studies and Anthropology, she honed her communications and photography skills to market early-childhood environmental education and strategize with earth-friendly brands. Laila is thrilled to be apart of the Action For Nature team and is in charge of social media and online content. Feel free to email her updates or stories of interest for our social channels.