ABOUT US
The Wildlife Restoration Foundation brings healthy wildlife back to America’s land and seascapes. The work we do as a nongovernmental organization is rooted by partnerships and is growing fast. We empower partners to intervene with innovative—and very direct—conservation measures on the ground and in the water.
_edited.jpg)
Mission
Directly and measurably increase park wildlife population viability, health, and security through partnerships.
Vision
Native wildlife in and around parks thriving in ecological balance with habitat and through shared stewardship.
What We Do
-
Collaborating with Wildlife
-
Zoo and Aquarium Partnership Program
-
Bison Program
-
Wildlife Legacy Program
Board of Directors
The members of the WRF board represent philanthropists and experts in wildlife and habitat recovery, management and science, animal husbandry and health, technology, infrastructure and media.
Dan Ashe
President and CEO, Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Sharon Deem DVM, PH.D., Dipl ACZM
Director, Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis Zoo
Mary Erickson
Former Custer Gallatin National Forest Supervisor (ret.)
Jesse Gilbert
President and CEO, Texas State Aquarium
Shannon Hackley
Shannon Leigh Design - Strategic Placemaking, Making Places for a Better World
Sally Mulvena
President and CEO, Red River Zoo
Susan H. Lylis
Executive Vice President, International Conservation Caucus Foundation
Mary Wagner
Former Associate Chief, USDA Forest Service (ret.)
Our Team.
WRF team members are located across North America and dedicated to restoring native wildlife in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
WRF facilitates Project Partners implementing wildlife recovery solutions in the field and focuses on habitat retention that enables animals to meet their needs. Partners include protected area agencies, ranchers, NGOs, Tribes/First Nations, businesses, and investors who seek collaboratively-derived solutions to wildlife challenges.
The WRF team is composed of exceptional professionals, many of whom volunteer their time to WRF to gain experience and fulfill the mission of restoring wildlife to lands and waters of North America
Founder and Owner
Julie Anton Randall
The founder of WRF, Julie brings 20+ years of leadership experience focused on the survival of wildlife, ranching, and Tribal communities—a commitment built on a family legacy of farming the West by 1865. Julie coordinated the 130-member American Bison Coalition for naming bison the U.S. National Mammal. For 6 years, she facilitated 6 agency directors on the North American Intergovernmental Committee on Wilderness & Protected Areas Conservation. She managed the North American Save the Rhinos Campaign for 3 years and has consulted on projects for dozens of NGOs, including Wilderness Foundation Africa’s anti-poaching projects. Julie was WILD Foundation VP of Programs and USDA agricultural economist with the Agricultural Marketing Service, first to staff the National Organic Program. She holds a B.A. from U.C. Santa Barbara and M.A. from Stanford University and is WRF President.
Director of Programs
Kayla Andra
Director of Marketing & Communications
Scott Wilkerson
Scott is a career Marketing Strategist with a lifelong passion for wildlife conservation. With over 20 years at HawkPartners, a boutique consultancy, Scott applies an extensive track record as a lead brand, communications and marketing strategist for Fortune 500 companies. Scott has a B.A. from Boston College and M.A. in International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Scott serves as a Partner in Conservation for the World Wildlife Fund and as a Steward for the C&O Canal Trust . From his base in Bethesda, Maryland, Scott leads WRF’s corporate partner engagement and Park Experience major donor program, as well as advising on WRF marketing and donor communication strategies.
Director of Operations
Tucker Downs
Having over 10 years’ experience working in zoos, Tucker has worked as a Large Mammal/Senior Elephant Zoologist at Dallas Zoo since 2019. He has also served as an animal care volunteer, education mentor, and conservation interpreter at Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas, and presented at the Elephant Managers Association conference. Holding a B.S. in Zoo Science & Business Administration from Friends University, he has applied his ex situ conservation expertise working on several endangered species’ responsible breeding programs. Tucker manages WRF accounts and other vital operational functions, while also working to secure rhino zoo partners for the iMfolozi Project.
%20Headshot.jpg)
Summits Project Manager (Operations)
Nicholas Easley (Nick)
Texas-born born and raised in Houston, Nick holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Texas State University. First a Fish & Herpetology Intern at Texas State Aquarium, he became a freshwater fisheries biologist technician then land surveyor. In his next role as Retreats Director for Camp Eagle in Rocksprings, he ran outdoor recreation programs and events before becoming a corporate tax and financial advisor. Nick recently spent 6 months in Costa Rica working with agencies and landowners to install hanging wildlife bridges and remove electrical lines to spare wildlife from vehicle collisions and electrocution. An avid fly fisherman, Nick is passionate about the WRF mission and enrolled in University of Florida’s graduate program in ecological restoration. Nick is WRF's Project Manager for the CW Summit and NABS2.
Conservation Operations Manager
Victoria Newman
Victoria is a graduate student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She earned her B.S.B.A. in Management and Marketing from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in Sustainability (M.S.) and Business Administration (MBA). With a lifelong love for wildlife and marine ecosystems, Victoria is passionate about wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and protecting the ecosystems species depend on. She serves as an Animal Conservation Specialist, supporting initiatives focused on wildlife protection and environmental stewardship, and is especially interested in conservation efforts that protect vulnerable species and promote long-term ecological sustainability.
Program Manager
Quinn Donahue
A Chicago native, Quinn is a marine scientist dedicated to wildlife conservation and public outreach/education regarding wildlife. With a B.S. in Marine Science-Biology and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Tampa, she is most passionate about wildlife conservation through collaborative work and research. Quinn is a Wildlife Conservation Specialist with WRF and has been working on the CW Summit team
Development Coordinator
Dharma Gregerson
Dharma grew up in a southern CA surf town going to the beach everyday. It was always something that called to her. She spent a semester studying marine biology in Turks and Caicos with the School for Field Studies. This was a semester of hands-on research that was presented to Turks and Caicos officials. We monitored the success of MPAs on seagrass and Queen Conch populations. Following this, Dharma volunteered with Saving the Blue tagging sharks off the coast of Andros Island in the Bahamas. During her last semester of college she studied Small Island Biodiversity on the Galapagos. All of these experiences shaped her future career ambitions. Dharma wants to one day be on the board of directors and philanthropy team doing exactly what we are doing here with WRF.
Program Coordinator
Michael Deluca
Michael began his conservation career through environmental education, with Nature's Classroom. He spent several years leading outdoor education programs across New England before joining Yellowstone National Park, working with Yellowstone Forever to aid conservation and tourism efforts. Michael is passionate about making conservation and environmentalism more accessible, helping people build a lasting connection to the natural world.
Summits Program Coordinator
Megan Brown
Megan Brown, MPH, is a program strategist and community engagement professional with 15+ years of experience developing programs, building partnerships, and providing training and technical assistance. She holds an MPH from Loma Linda University and a B.S. in Behavioral Science from Pacific Union College. Her work spans Tribal and Indigenous communities, community resilience, wildfire education, volunteer stewardship, and environmental programming. A certified marine mammal naturalist and lifelong lover of wildlife and the outdoors, Megan resides in California and is passionate about developing wider understanding of why wildlife matters and the need to become personally invested in protecting them.
Program Coordinator
Brittany Price
Brittany was born and raised in California’s Central Valley, where her lifelong interest in animals and the natural world began at an early age. This inspired her passion for conservation and environmental stewardship. She later earned an Associate of Science degree in Forestry and Natural Resources from Bakersfield College, specializing in wildlife management. Her professional experience includes habitat restoration, biological monitoring, and supporting efforts to preserve healthy ecosystems and protect native species. Brittany is especially passionate about wildlife conservation and the reintroduction of wildlife into their natural habitats through sustainable practices.
Conservation Operations Specialist
Mary Baldwin
Mary is a graduate from the University of Central Florida, living in Cocoa, Florida. Her professional background is “filled with numbers, papers, and office work,” her true calling is working for animals and nature. She has 14 years of experience in financial management, holding analyst and administrative positions with the U.S. Navy, Brevard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and spent time working at Brevard Zoo, bringing multiple talents to the WRF operations team.
Marketing Specialist
Katie DiLoreto
Katie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Portland and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. With professional experience in the hospitality sector, Katie is helping to draw the travel and tourism sector into WRF’s Collaborating with Wildlife work. Katie’s lifelong passion for animals and wildlife has led her to volunteer at her local zoo and with various animal shelters. From her base in Southern California, she serves on both the WRF Communications and Development teams.
Conservation Specialist
Ian Giancarlo
Ian has a unique background in environmental engineering and consulting, environmental advocacy, and nonprofit fundraising. Previously, Ian worked in Connecticut as environmental engineer and in Colorado and Oregon working to protect wildlife at the grassroots level as an advocate for Environment America. Currently, Ian lives in LA and is involved in the outdoor recreation and trail/ultra-running community working with WRF to expand their fundraising portfolio.
Sustainability Specialist
Lauren Hamilton-Musso
Lauren Hamilton-Musso grew up in Tennessee but today Helena, Montana is her home. She holds a B.S. in Sustainability Management from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science & Forestry and is pursuing a Master of Natural Resources in Fish & Wildlife Sciences & Management at the University of Idaho. Her background spans GIS technology, wildlife conservation, natural resource management, and local community engagement. Lauren is currently a Transportation Planner gaining expertise in adaptations to infrastructure that give wildlife opportunities to meet their needs in a variety of places where roads and railways get people to where they’re going.
Conservation Film and Photo Specialist
David Puello Gutiérrez
David Puello Gutiérrez is a Colombian director, screenwriter, and photographer trained at the Subiela Film School. His work moves between fiction, documentary, and visual experimentation, with a strong focus on environmental conservation, collective memory, traditional knowledge, and the relationship between people and their environment. Blending poetic and social storytelling, his photography and films explore intimate, ancestral, and territorial narratives through an emotional and sensitive lens.
.jpeg)
Conservation Program Specialist
Victoria (Tori) Hymel, PhD
With a PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization from Virginia Tech, Tori also holds an M.S. in Conservation Leadership through Learning from Colorado State University and B.A. in Psychology from Colgate University. Her graduate research focused on conservation social science principles, namely collaborative governance, drawing people and organizations together to effectively address conservation issues, from the Southeastern United States to Sierra Leone. Tori brings vital expertise in community-based research and intervention methods.
Conservation Program Specialist
Maya Khesin
Maya holds an M.S. in Environment & Sustainability from the University of Michigan. Her capstone project during graduate school involved a partnership with the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA), an Indigenous-led nonprofit that works with Tribal nations across the U.S. portion of the Northern Great Plains on grassland conservation and restoration initiatives. Conducting field work in northern Montana was an unforgettable experience that drives her commitment to grassland ecosystem recovery and the bison’s role as ecosystem engineer and sacred kin for many Plains Tribal nations. Maya is also a painter currently working on a grasslands series and avid hiker and backpacker.
Landscape Architect and Ecological Historian
Liz Koonce
Liz holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture with a focus on public lands management and animals as ecosystem engineers. She has worked in the landscape architecture field with multi-disciplinary teams on projects including state park trail systems, gardens, shoreline systems, and large-scale ecological restoration endeavors. Liz won the Laurel Award for exhibits at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History from 2018 to 2020, is on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Museums Association, and is currently the exhibit designer for ScienceWorks, where she collaborates with local nonprofits to create exhibits that champion ecology, wildlife, and the environment.
Wildlife Conservation Specialist
Annabelle O'Reilly
Annabelle holds a Master of Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University and B.S. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from Saint Joseph’s University. Her graduate work focused on the intersection of fire ecology, conservation, and social sciences, with an emphasis on understanding how ecological and community perspectives can inform conservation strategies. Annabelle’s professional experience includes community engagement, habitat restoration, ecological research, wildfire resilience, and environmental education through work with The Ember Alliance, the USDA Forest Service, and AmeriCorps. She is passionate about developing practical, locally informed strategies that foster healthy ecosystems and resilient communities.
Wildlife Conservation Specialist
Ana Sanchez
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Science & Management at Portland State University, Ana has applied her B.S. degree in Fisheries & Wildlife Sciences to fisheries fieldwork and community engagement roles at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) as a biological science assistant conducting creel surveys and tagging white sturgeon in the Columbia River. She also worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including a lead role translating trail panels into Spanish at Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Growing up on her grandfather’s farm in Mexico, Ana values the importance of keeping farms in families.
Conservation Film & Photo Specialist
Emily Wilheim
Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin – Steve Point, where she studied forestry management and environmental conservation. She has also completed coursework for a master’s program in Biodiversity Conservation. Emily’s professional experience includes almost 10 years in analytical sciences and over 3 years as an administrative official in the public sector contributing to civic engagement and operational support. She is passionate about using data and science to inform policy change and advance ecological protections.
Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist
Henry Stanford
A Wildlife & Fisheries Biologist at WRF, Henry is also currently a biological science technician at Yellowstone National Park, managing aquatic invasive species. He also served as a Forestry Technician in USDA Forest Service Region 9 and a seasonal park ranger with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Minnesota. Henry earned his B.S. from Texas A&M University at College Station, where he developed a passion for bison that grew while working around the Yellowstone herd. Henry serves on the NABS2 Program Team.
WRF Advisors
WRF Advisors are esteemed colleagues with expertise in wildlife and habitat field conservation and other matters directly connected to the WRF mission. WRF calls upon them to provide keen insights and valuable advice on best practices and novel approaches to conducting the highest priority wildlife restoration measures in and around parks with help of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, park gateway communities, and other WRF partners.
KEITH AUNE
Keith is a conservation scientist with 40 years’ experience including 3+ decades with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. As chief of wildlife research, he conducted field and laboratory research on bison management, black and grizzly bears, wildlife diseases, wolverine, and mountain lions. He joined Wildlife Conservation Society in 2007, becoming North American Bison Program Director. Keith was instrumental in the development of the National Bison Legacy Act and also The Buffalo Treaty integrating 30 Tribal/First Nations and transfer of Elk Island National Park bison back to Blackfeet Nation. Keith has chaired the IUCN Bison Specialist Group and consults, including on Ken Burns’ film, American Bison. Keith earned a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from University of Montana and M.A. in Fish & Wildlife Management from Montana State University. Keith co-leads NABS.
ANDREW MUIR
Andrew is the CEO of the Wilderness Foundation Africa and, with 30 years’ experience, is one of South Africa’s most influential conservationists and social entrepreneurs with a background in wildlife anti-poaching in parks and private game reserves, eco-tourism, ranger and hospitality training programs for AIDS orphans, and experiential opportunities for township youth. Andrew is a Rolex Award for Enterprise Laurette and a Schwab Foundation (World Economic Forum) Fellow.
Pro Bono Partners
Arnold & Porter provides expert and comprehensive legal services to WRF on a pro bono basis.
Cbiz is providing pro bono accounting services to WRF.
CTP Boston is a pro bono member of WRF's creative team.
Anna Mullin designed the logo for WRF.