Sara Guenther

Sara has over fifteen years of impact-driven research experience at the intersection of social science and natural resource conservation. Her experience with EPI at Reserva Pacuare in 2002 as a visiting high school student set her on a career path that included opportunities to conduct field research in the U.S., Chile, Mexico, Kenya, Poland, Philippines, and Australia on marine mammals, bats, and people. As a program evaluation specialist, Sara is an expert at using data and evidence to inform strategic decision-making.

Sara believes that field-based education is one of the most exciting ways to teach principles of research design and data use, and practice critical thinking, collaboration, and teamwork. Students later apply these skills in their communities, in their careers, as consumers of information, and as decision-makers. Sara knows first-hand that EPI is special in its commitment to community-centered conservation research and that students return from the field empowered to tackle environmental challenges at any scale from a place of care and cooperation.