Ryan Phillips

I always had a passion and calling to study the ecological interactions of species. My life-long bond to nature made me the biologist I am today. My B. Sc. degree in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology with a specialization in Ornithology from the University of California at Davis, prepared me for scientific research. I accepted a position with The Peregrine Fund in Belize working on the Harpy Eagle Restoration Project. While living in Belize, I witnessed firsthand the thoughtless persecution of species and ecosystems and quickly realized how critical education is for conservation. After leaving TPF, I felt a void in my heart. As a result, I co-founded the Belize Raptor Research Institute (BRRI), a non-profit organization. The success of BRRI demonstrates my abilities in managing an international conservation organization, developing long-range research and conservation goals, fundraising, writing grants, and conducting and reporting scientific research. Upon returning from Belize to California in 2007, I had a clearer perception about conservation issues and learned that education is critical for a successful conservation project. This inspired me to go outside of my comfort zone and teach wildlife science by reaching a larger and younger audience through education. As a result, I was privileged to be hired as adjunct faculty at De Anza College in the Environmental Studies Department and was later appointed as the Lead Instructor of the Wildlife Science Technician Program. Pursuing this teaching position has allowed me to combine the classroom and the field studies courses as a way to impassion and inspire students about science. I have published numerous peer-reviewed papers related to bird ecology and have presented at various scientific conferences. I am particularly interested in bird ecology, specifically movement patterns, human interactions, and symbiotic interactions, as it relates to wildlife conservation.

October 2016