Marco aguirre | restoration technician
I was born in Huetamo, Michoacan, Mexico. At age 19, I moved from Mexico City to Vista California. I have been a resident of City Heights for 18 years. What I enjoy most about my neighborhood is its diversity of cultures and strong sense of community. I also enjoy walking my 4 dogs every evening. I am a nature lover and animal rights advocate. Prior to Joining SDCL; I worked as a self-employed Landscaper for over 20 years. Being a team member of SDCL has helped me to grow personally and professionally. I feel it's so important to preserve and maintain our canyonlands for future generations to enjoy. Hiking, gardening, and socializing with great friends and good food are some of my favorite activities. To summarize, I am extremely passionate about the environment and believe in social justice for all.
Chance Austin-Brecher | Restoration Field Supervisor
Chance joined Canyonlands in November 2020. He holds an MFA in poetry from San Diego State University and has work published or forthcoming in publications such as the San Diego Poetry Annual, Birds Piled Loosely, and No Cinema. He has lived in City Heights since 2018 and considers it the best neighborhood he's ever lived in. He is excited to put action behind his values by helping to restore the incredible network of canyons across the city and to maintain and promote the beautiful greenspaces of City Heights.
Laura Carlson | fire fuels reduction field supervisor
Laura grew up in the mountains of northern Arizona and has called San Diego home since 2010. After serving as a member of the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps in the southeastern United States, she received a BA in Environmental Studies with a minor in Wilderness Studies from the University of Montana in Missoula. With experience studying the conservation of expansive public and private lands in the northern Rocky Mountains, she is excited to protect and restore urban natural spaces on a more local scale. Before working with Canyonlands, Laura attended over 200 births as a doula and home birth midwife apprentice. She loves trail running in Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area, trying new restaurants with her girlfriend and hanging out at home with their two Maine Coon rescue cats.
Sheryl Cramer | fire fuels reduction field supervisor
Sheryl is originally from San Diego and grew up exploring and playing in Navajo Canyon. Inspired by her backyard to pursue a career in community-based conservation, Sheryl attended Colby College in Waterville, ME where she graduated with a degree in Environmental Science and Philosophy. Wanting to make an immediate impact, she entered the field of restoration and has since worked towards the conservation of Chinook and Coho Salmon, and Hawaiian Stilts and Coots. Sheryl joined SD Canyonlands as a Fire Fuels Reduction Field Supervisor in August 2021, and is excited to finally be home again and working with SoCal native flora and fauna—especially with the increasing intensity of the California fire regime. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, scuba diving, reading in hammocks, and hanging out with dogs.
Chloe Evans| fire fuels reduction technician
Born on the east coast, but raised in San Diego, Chloe has spent most of her life exploring the outdoors. Fostering her love for wildlife and natural places she has worked at the San Diego Zoo for 6 years. Half of that time has been spent helping teach students how they can be wildlife heroes through school programs and summer camp. Chloe also worked at REI for nearly three years, making some amazing friends and spending more time camping, rock climbing, and hiking with her peers. In her free time she likes to tend to her four reptiles, indoor jungle of house plants, and hang out with her dogs.
Tai Gomez | fire fuels reduction technician
Tai serves on the board of directors to the Yaquis of Southern California. He is a culture keeper and water/land defender within the native american community. Having served in several capacities to the L'eau La Vie, Standing Rock, SD Camp Land Back, Protect Mauna Kea and Run 4 Salmon indigenous movements, Tai has taken on the task of lead project coordinator for a new cultural sciences program under the long term Yaqui Divers Initiative. Tai’s hope is to uplift indigenous voices and practices with the objective of placing them at the forefront of ecosystem stewardship in California.
Kindra Hixon | Outreach program manager
Kindra Hixon is an alumni of Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy. Kindra has worked for non-profit organizations in Belize, Catalina Island, Oregon, and now San Diego, all within the environmental sector. She is a naturalist with many years of experience working to restore the natural landscape and educate the next generation of environmental stewards. She is a nature lover and fosters her love for the outdoors by hiking with her dog, birding, and enjoying San Diego's open spaces on her days off.
Miranda Hyldahl | Associate Director
Miranda joined the Canyonlands team in February 2015. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in June of 2013 with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from University of San Diego. Miranda’s previous roles include working for environmental public-interest attorneys representing nonprofit organizations, working on campaigns such as the Power Past Coal campaign in her hometown of Bellingham, WA, and assisting with the coordination of the Central Coast Bioneers annual conference. When she’s not working, you can find Miranda at the beach, on a run, or exploring San Diego County.
Wendy Miller | Restoration Technician
Wendy has been pulling trash out of the City Heights canyons and streets for the last ten years. She's thrilled to be down in the canyons learning about restoration five days a week. When she's not in the canyons, you can find her running a community composting hub, trying to keep her house from falling down, or camping in the nearby mountains or desert.
Jennifer Ochoa| outreach coordinator
Jennifer moved to San Diego from San Jose in 2014, and has lived in City Heights for the past three years. Before working for San Diego Canyonlands, she worked at multiple non-profits focused on child development. When she is not hiking or working in the canyons, Jennifer loves to garden and practice visual art and design.
Clayton Tschudy | Executive Director
Clayton Tschudy is a botanist with over 20 years of experience in restorative landscape design in California. He began his career in environmental biology and is an expert in California native plant ecology. Mr. Tschudy was the Director of Horticulture at the Water Conservation Botanic Garden at Cuyamaca College for four years, and is recognized as an industry expert in habitat restoration and drought tolerant landscaping. He has consulted on many environmental projects with the City of San Diego, City of Chula Vista, local corporations, businesses, and private landowners.
jonathan appelbaum | Restoration crew manager
Jonathan Appelbaum has over 20 years of experience as a restoration ecologist, wildlife biologist, and habitat preserve manager. He is well versed in habitat maintenance and management, restoration planning and implementation, plant ecology, wildlife biology, and invasive species management. Jonathan brings a unique background in environmental education and community outreach related to his extensive restoration and conservation work. He's a passionate volunteer and active with groups such as I Love a Clean San Diego, the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, San Diego Children and Nature, and the Volcan Mountain Foundation among others. Jonathan is committed to mentorship and supporting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion through organizational change and growth, serving on the California Invasive Plant Council's statewide JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee. Jonathan has previously served as conservation manager for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, restoration ecologist for San Diego Canyonlands, land manager for the Endangered Habitats Conservancy, and multiple other positions with conservation organizations and environmental consulting firms. Jonathan holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Management from the University of Santa Barbara, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.
Robert Bakken | Restoration technician
Born in Fargo and raised in Thief River Falls, MN, Rob made it to the coast about 15 years ago by way of New Orleans and hasn’t left. San Diego, for him, and Southern California is the near perfect place to grow old, watch the trees grow, and to embark on the family road trip with his ferocious daughter and brilliant wife. An SDSU grad with a degree in Geography and an emphasis in Urban & Regional Analysis, he is particularly interested in the connections between open spaces, mental health, and accessibility for all. Someday, he hopes to be a City Planner. Currently, Rob lives in the Chollas Creek neighborhood of City Heights surrounded by hard-working families and friendly neighbors. When he is not exploring the canyons at work, he can be found exploring San Diego’s parks and playgrounds with his family.
ryan emery| fire fuels reduction technician
Ryan grew up exploring the diverse habitats of San Diego and marveling at their abundance of biodiversity. He is an alumni of Humboldt State University where he received his bachelors in Conservation biology with an emphasis in Applied Vertebrate Ecology. Since graduating, he has done an Americorps contract where he got to work on numerous conservation projects all over Southern California and then spent two years on the Oregon coast as a fishery observer and catch monitor. In his free time he enjoys getting outside hiking, kayaking, camping, foraging, birding, or relaxing at home with his cat, Hobbes.
monica graves| fire fuels reduction technician
Monica grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but San Diego quickly felt like home when she moved here in 2013. Passionate about conservation work and habitat restoration, she received a degree in Sustainability from SDSU and has worked for organizations such as San Diego Coastkeeper, Hawaii State Parks, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In her free time you can find her outside whether it’s gardening, petting her sunbathing cat, or making stained glass. On weekends if she’s not searching for an uncrowded surf lineup, you can find her enjoying local outdoor spaces.
Krystaliza Guerrero-Gracia | Restoration Technician
I was born and raised in the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago and spent most of my childhood outdoors playing and climbing trees. I've been living here in San Diego since 2013 and my love for the outdoors has only grown. I have a degree in Sustainable Landscape Practices and am currently studying Arboriculture at Cuyamaca College. Before coming to Canyonlands, I was helping community members build native plant gardens, helping out at Pixca Farm in the South Bay, taking tree climbing class and monitoring newly planted trees in Balboa Park as a Tree Steward. I plan to become a certified Arborist and would like to help plant and maintain city trees in areas where there are few green spaces. When I’m not in the canyons, you can find me climbing trees, bird watching at the Tijuana Estuary or camping out in the desert and mountains.
Ian haliburton| fire fuels reduction technician
Ian just graduated from UCLA with a degree in neuroscience and a passion for studying wildlife behavior and biology, which he hopes to expand upon soon at the graduate level. Apart from his short time in-person at UCLA, Ian has lived in the North Park community of San Diego all his life, and has always cherished being just a short walk, bike or skateboard trip away from many beautiful canyons. He is excited to spend this next year working in, learning from and hopefully making a difference for the habitat he loves with the crew. Outside of work, you can almost always find Ian among birds—following wild birds with his favorite binoculars, volunteering with rescued birds at a local animal sanctuary or dancing with his companion birds, Bunji and Cooee.
Iriany Lopez-Hernandez| Youth Program Coordinator
Iriany was born in Ixmiquilpan Mexico and is a descendant of the Hñähñu/Otomi people. Iriany holds a bachelor's degree from UCSC in Feminist Studies with a concentration in Power, Culture, and Representation. Before joining Canyonlands, Iriany spent four years supervising a K-8 educational program, overseeing up to 80 students. She has participated in Peace & Dignity Run, which is an Indigenous/Native prayer run that connects first people across the continent. Her professional and personal experiences inform her passion for educating youth on indigenous ways of being in community with the land, especially urban youth that may not have access to big natural spaces. Iriany believes that when collaborating with nature, we can remind ourselves of the vastness of nature that is available to us, even in cities. She hopes to co-create spaces for urban youth to know that even through society, family, and personal changes – the earth is constant. There’s no better way for youth to interact with this truth than by being an active participant in creating structures for community well-being, safety, and belonging.
Diana Murray | Restoration Technician
Diana was born and raised in East Los Angeles, but has called Azalea Park/City Heights home since 2016. Diana is currently working towards a degree in Anthropology. She loves being able to work with such a great team of people and shares their passion for caring for the local canyons. Before working with Canyonlands, she worked with a non-profit dog rescue helping to get 100s of dogs their new homes, including one to add to her own family. Diana loves exploring the canyons with her wife and two dogs. Usually the cat stays at home.
Aedan Lagillardaie | Restoration Technician
My family is originally from Bogotá and Chicago, but I grew up in the mountains in Kumeyaay land and have called the city of San Diego home since 2013. My passion for the environment and natural farming has driven much of what I do. Before coming to SD Canyonlands, I managed a community garden project in National City, interned with the IRC on a high school gardening project in City Heights, and had a personal project of conserving heirloom seeds. When I'm not working in the canyons, I focus my time on environmental activism, furthering my education in Natural Farming and traditional skills, going to the mountains, and seeing new places with my partner.
Lillian Nuño | administrative Coordinator
Lillian Nuño has recently joined the Canyonlands team. Before joining San Diego Canyonlands, Lillian worked as a PreK teacher for an independent school in San Diego. She is an SDSU alumni and lifelong City Heights resident. She is very excited to help support the Canyonlands mission of restoring, protecting and promoting the beautiful creeks and canyons of San Diego and has the benefit of enjoying the City Heights Canyon Loop Trail in her own backyard. On her time off, she can be found hiking, taking walks along the bay and practicing yoga.
natalia toscano | fire fuels reduction technician
Natalia is originally from Houston, Texas. After receiving her BSc in Geology from Texas A&M University she moved to San Diego in 2013. She currently resides in North Park with her boyfriend and two cats. Before joining Canyonlands, she was an analyst at an environmental testing laboratory as well as a greenhouse technician. She is currently preparing to take the Fundamentals of Geology exam to become a certified Geologist in Training. She spends her weekends hiking the peaks around San Diego county or tending to her ever growing collection of plants and books. She is grateful to live in a city with an abundance of green spaces and is excited to be a part of the effort to conserve these special resources.
Brian Wintz | Restoration Field Supervisor
Brian moved out to City Heights in June of 2018 after graduating with a film degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Since moving to San Diego, Brian has worked in various aspects of film and media production, from documentary filmmaking to podcasting. He loves walking through the various canyons of City Heights and taking trips to Anza Borrego to go camping and capture the night sky on camera. Although he's originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Brian has embraced City Heights as his home and he's happy to have the opportunity to conserve and restore the environment here with the rest of the Canyonlands team.