Norris Center Leadership Team

Norris Center Executive Committee

Norris Center Curatorial Staff

Norris Center Lead Student Staff

The Friends of the Norris Center (FNC)

The Friends of the Norris Center (FNC) are a group of community members and students dedicated to advancing the mission of the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History. Following in Ken’s spirit, Norris Center members are part of a community of people who carry their passion for the natural world into all aspects of their lives. FNC is a not-for-profit organization, and membership is open to all.  Click here to go to the Friends of the Norris Center (FNC) web page.

Other Norris Center Affiliates

Krikor Andonian Lecturer, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology kkandonia@ucsc.edu. I am a plant community ecologist and especially interested in the interactions among plants, soil microbes, and invasive species. I teach courses in ecology, evolution, physiology, environmental science, and California natural history and conservation.

Lily Balloffet Associate Professor, Latin American & Latino Studies lballoff@ucsc.edu. I’m a historian of global connections and mobilities, and I use this approach to study humans and animals in the American hemisphere. I am currently researching several species of venomous snakes for a project that bridges natural history, public health, inter-American relations and agricultural history. Lily’s website.

Giacomo Bernardi Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology bernardi@ucsc.edu. I am an ichthyologist that works on fish population genetics and phylogenomics.  I work in tropical coral reefs, temperate reefs in California, the Tropical Eastern Pacific and Baja California. I also work on invasive fish species in the Mediterranean. Giacomo’s website 

Martha Brown Retired Principal Editor, Center for Argoecology and Sustainable Food Systems mtbrown@ucsc.edu. I write about natural history topics for a variety of projects, and take part in field studies as a volunteer, including the annual albatross nest count at Midway Atoll. I also help run the bird banding project at Long Marine Lab.

Elliott Campbell Associate Professor, Environmental Studies elliott.campbell@ucsc.edu

Ryan Carle Lecturer, Environmental Studies ryan@oikonos.org. I study seabirds with the non-profit Oikonos and teach natural history classes through the Norris Center. Ryan’s website

Mark Carr Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology mhcarr@ucsc.edu. I study the basic and applied ecology of coastal marine ecosystems, especially kelp forests, and teach classes on marine ecology at UC Santa Cruz.

Daniel P. Costa Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology costa@ucsc.edu. I study the natural history of marine mammals and seabirds. With a special focus on movement patterns, foraging ecology and diving physiology. I teach a course on the biology of marine mammals, as well as a course on field methods on large marine vertebrates. Daniel’s website

Don Croll Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology dcroll@ucsc.edu. I have conducted conservation research on island ecosystems and marine vertebrates for over 30 years, and my work has helped inform a wide range of coastal and marine conservation issues including marine animal conservation, fisheries management, and island restoration. I teach field-based student research courses across the UC Natural Reserve system and Baja California. Don’s website 

Gage Dayton Director, UCSC Natural Reserves ghdayton@ucsc.edu. I have a broad background in teaching and have taught courses in general biology, herpetology, natural history of vertebrates, field methods in ecology, physiology, and biogeography. At UCSC my focus is on supporting field-based learning opportunities through increasing the number of field courses and student intern opportunities on the UCSC Natural Reserves. In this capacity, I teach field courses and oversee the UCSC Natural Reserve System. 

Darrow Feldstein Bird School Project darrow.feldstein@gmail.com
I teach young people about birds and local habitats. I have worked as a bird and plant biologist in Yosemite National Park and I believe in the power of nature connection as a way to help people become their best selves. Darrow’s website

Lawrence D. Ford LD Ford Rangeland Science fordld@sbcglobal.net. The foundation of my professional work is natural history, the continual observation and re-examination of ecosystem components and processes, and assessment of management options to maintain biodiversity. My focus is on California’s Mediterranean grasslands, grazing management to benefit special status species and natural communities, rancher sustainability and stewardship, and the scholarly applications of science. I design and manage conservation projects involving grazing, including research, assessments, strategic planning, monitoring, and adaptive management. 

Winifred F. Frick Assistant Adjunct Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology wfrick@batcon.org. I work on conservation of bats around the world.  I use natural history to observe and understand species and their threats. Winifred’s website

Greg Gilbert Professor, Environmental Studies ggilbert@ucsc.edu. I study plant pathology, trees, fungi, and inquiry-based education, both globally, and here on the campus of UCSC. I use molecular tools, archival research, field experiments, narrative analysis, computer models, art, long-term monitoring, meta-analysis, and other approaches to answer questions that help solve important environmental problems. I also run the 16-hectare long term forest monitoring project called the FERP on Upper Campus. Greg’s website

Stephen R. Gliessman Presidential Chair, Water Resources and Food System Sustainability Steve’s website

Andrew Gottscho Adjunct Faculty, Merritt College andrew.gottscho@gmail.com. My research is focused on the evolution, taxonomy and phylogeography of phrynosomatid lizards in the deserts of southwestern North America and Mexico. I also teach a field-based hereptology class at Merritt College in Oakland, CA.

Elizabeth Howard Manager, Younger Lagoon Reserve eahoward@ucsc.edu. I facilitate teaching, research, public education, and native habitat restoration outside at Younger Lagoon Reserve.  I am also a graduate student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department where I study the longer-term success of native habitat restoration. Younger Lagoon Reserve website

Alex Jones Manager, UCSC Campus Natural Reserve asjones@ucsc.edu. I support undergraduate, graduate and faculty involvement in education, research and stewardship on campus natural lands. I have taught ENVS 15, Natural History of the UCSC Campus, four times as a Lecturer in Environmental Studies, and have been transformed by the power of Natural History Field Quarter for three blessed spring seasons of my life! Campus Reserve website

Kathleen Kay Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology kmkay@ucsc.edu. I study the evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics, and natural history of terrestrial plants in California and Central and South America. I teach classes on Evolution and Systematic Botany. I teach my students how to use and contribute to herbaria. Kathleen’s website 

A. Marm Kilpatrick Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology akilpatr@ucsc.edu. I study and teach classes about the natural history of populations and diseases, including mosquitoes, ticks, bats, birds, viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Kilpatrick Lab website

Deborah Letourneau Professor Emeritus, Environmental Studies  dletour@ucsc.edu. I am an ecologist, teaching and conducting research on insect-plant interactions within food webs in tropical rainforests, CA redwood forests and on organic farms.

Michael E. Loik Professor, Environmental Studies mloik@ucsc.edu. I am interested in the natural history of cacti. If there is a cactus nearby, I will know about it. I have stopped bus loads of tourists to find cacti at 14,000′ in Peru. I have been bitten by bullet ants trying to get a photo of epiphytic cacti in the Amazon Basin. I have done research on the most cold-tolerant cactus in the world, Opuntia fragilis, which is found north to 700 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Michael’s website

Stephanie Martin Retired educator martins4@cruzio.com. After many years of sharing natural history with children in my elementary school classroom, I now work full-time as an artist, primarily making etchings of California’s plants and birds. Field observations, sketches, along with museum collections, are key to my work. Stephanie’s website

Andrew S. Mathews Associate Professor, Anthropology amathews@ucsc.edu. I use natural history methods and drawings in my research on anthropogenic forest landscapes in Italy. I teach my students to use natural history methods on the UCSC campus, as a way of attending to history and ecological relations. Andrew’s website

Joe Miller Director, UCSC Fort Ord Natural Reserve joemiller@ucsc.edu. I facilitate research and education in Maritime Chaparral habitat at UCSC Fort Ord Natural Reserve in Marina, CA. I oversee mammal monitoring by camera and trap, bird banding and observation, plant survey, herpetology monitoring, and stewardship with Monterey Bay area students. Fort Ord Reserve website