PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER

Megan is the President and co-founder of the District Coyote Project. Megan has been conducting research and learning about coyotes and coyote-human interactions for two of the three decades she’s lived in DC. She’s currently a Professor in Practice at Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability.

VICE PRESIDENT & BOARD MEMBER

John is the Vice President of the District Coyote Project. He retired in 2016 from The Humane Society of the United, where he was the Senior Scientist for the Wildlife Protection Program. He currently serves on the board of DC’s wildlife rehabilitation center, City Wildlife, and as a global ambassador for Wellbeing International.

BOARD MEMBER

Serda is a board member of the District Coyote Project and has been active with the organization since its inception. Serda has a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University, where the focus of her thesis research was on human-wildlife conflict with wolves and bears in Armenia. Serda is currently a Senior Manager at Defenders of Wildlife where she works to ensure consistency across and support of field conservation programs across the country, primarily Defenders’ human-wildlife coexistence work.

BOARD MEMBER

Ryan is a board member of the District Coyote Project. With an educational background in wildlife conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable development, Ryan has held positions leading land use planning for the Bureau of Land Management as well as the major infrastructure and renewable energy program for the Department of the Interior. He currently serves as the Environmental Justice Coordinator for the Department of the Interior and sits on multiple committees and working groups.

BOARD MEMBER, RESEARCH LEAD, & TREASURER

Lindsay is the treasurer and research lead of the District Coyote Project. Lindsay has a master's degree in environmental science from American University. Her master's thesis research focused on coyotes in Washington, DC, primarily in Rock Creek Park. She studied their movement through green corridors and diet composition and conducted howl surveys and bioacoustic analysis of coyote vocalizations.

TEAM MEMBER

Anna-Elisa is a board member of the District Coyote Project. Ana-Elisa has her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Sweet Briar College and her master’s degree from Virginia Tech University in Natural Resource Management. Currently, Ana-Elisa serves as the Director of Stewardship & Real Estate for the Land Trust of Virginia, a nonprofit that conserves land throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has been living in and protecting Northern Virginia for over 9 years. If you find her in DC, she is at the Capital One Arena cheering on the CAPS.

BOARD MEMBER, COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH SPECIALIST

Deanna is a board member of the District Coyote Project interested in understanding animal-human-environment interactions to inform public health communication. She studied biology as an undergrad and worked in Lyme disease ecology research in New York State before moving to the DMV in 2018 for grad school. She earned her master’s degree in public health at the George Washington University, with a focus in health promotion. As a part of the DCP team, Deanna marries her interest in wildlife ecology with her passions for public health communication, outreach, and science education. Currently, she is a participant engagement and communications coordinator at the National Cancer Institute.

BOARD MEMBER & GIS SPECIALIST

Josh is responsible for website maintenance and geospatial mapping, including the community science reporting form and data management. Josh received his bachelor’s in Bio-Geography from Florida Atlantic University where his focus was mapping organisms and their effect on their environment. This work was put into use constructing and restoring living shorelines within the Indian River Lagoon with a focus on oyster ecology. Looking to further his education, Josh enrolled with Virginia Tech to pursue a Master’s in Natural Resources and eventually become part of the District Coyote Project. Currently, Josh is a Scientist III for Resource Environmental Solutions still working on shorelines and resiliency, but with a broader scope for the whole state of Florida.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE; COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Lindsay (Lin) conducts research for District Coyote Project and assists in their digital communication needs. She focused her undergrad in social sciences and her graduate studies in natural resource management and sustainability. She has merged her love of preserving the natural world with her passion for storytelling to help organizations like National Geographic, The Climate Pledge, and the Department of the Interior communicate complex issues like climate change, environmental justice, and wildlife conservation. Lindsay is currently a Senior Coordinator for the Climate and Energy program at the National Wildlife Federation.