Our Board
Executive Director: Lisa Sorenson, Ph.D.
USA | Resident of Natick, Massachusetts
Lisa Sorenson has been working in the Caribbean for over 30 years and has served as Executive Director of BirdsCaribbean since 2013. A long-time member since 1996, she previously held roles as Vice President and President of the Board and coordinated the West Indian Whistling-Duck and Wetlands Conservation Project from 1997 to 2016. Lisa is a passionate advocate for empowering local partners, raising awareness, and building regional capacity to conserve birds and biodiversity.
She holds a B.Sc. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis, and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Her doctoral research focused on the breeding ecology of White-cheeked Pintails in the Bahamas and the impacts of climate change on wetlands and bird populations.
Lisa is responsible for fundraising and managing numerous regional initiatives, including the West Indian Whistling-Ducks and Wetlands Conservation Project, Caribbean Waterbird Census, BirdSleuth Caribbean, Caribbean Birding Trail Program, and bird festivals. She works closely with staff and partners across the Caribbean, mentors students and conservationists, develops educational materials, and leads training workshops. She is deeply inspired by the dedication of regional partners and is committed to strengthening local leadership in bird conservation.
“I believe that raising awareness and encouraging local communities to know and appreciate birds, as well as get involved in science, monitoring, and conservation, is vital to safeguarding the region’s unique birdlife. We will build on our successes and strengths to grow our impact and the network of people that love birds and understand the value of local habitats for wildlife, sustainable livelihoods, ecosystem services, and ultimately, human health. I’m honored to work with such an incredible network of partners that cares deeply about our mission and gives generously of their time and expertise. I am thankful beyond words for our many partners, members, and supporters who believe in us and support our work in myriad ways.”
Email: lisa.sorenson@birdscaribbean.org
President: Adrianne Tossas, Ph.D.
USA | Resident of Puerto Rico
Adrianne Tossas has been a dedicated member of BirdsCaribbean since attending her first conference in the Dominican Republic in 1999. She has served as Director-at-Large for three terms (2003–2004, 2005–2006, and 2019–2020), and previously served as President from 2021–2022 and 2023–2024. She now begins a third term in this leadership role. Adrianne is a co-founder and the first coordinator of the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (2002–2005), co-chair of the Mentorship Program, and current chair of the Grant Awards Committee.
She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Her dissertation focused on the breeding biology, distribution, and metapopulation structure of the endemic Puerto Rican Vireo (Vireo latimeri), and she also documented the effects of Hurricane Georges in 1998 on local bird communities. From 2002 to 2004, she implemented BirdLife International’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) program in Puerto Rico. Since then, she has taught biology at the university level and leads undergraduate research and conservation work in avian ecology. Alongside her students, Adrianne monitors landbird and waterbird populations in northwestern Puerto Rico. She is also the author of Birds of Puerto Rico for Children and regularly gives public talks and contributes articles on conservation issues.
““I am very honored to serve as President of BirdsCaribbean for a third term. My main goal is to help the organization grow by promoting broader participation in flagship programs and working groups, recruiting a diverse and inclusive membership, and strengthening partnerships. I am committed to moving BirdsCaribbean forward as the leading ornithological organization in the region.”
Email: agtossas@gmail.com
Vice President: Andrea Thomen, Ph.D. Candidate
Dominican Republic
Andrea Thomen first presented her graduate research at the 2015 BirdsCaribbean Conference in Jamaica and has since attended subsequent conferences in Cuba and Guadeloupe, experiences she describes as life-changing. From 2015 to 2017, she served as the in-country coordinator for the Caribbean Birding Trail initiative, overseeing birding tourism capacity-building and improving environmental interpretation at Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve. Andrea has also organized over 50 education and outreach events for the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and Migratory Bird Festival.
She holds a B.A. in Environmental and International Studies from Manhattanville College and an M.Sc. in Conservation Biology from SUNY ESF in Syracuse, New York. She is currently enrolled in a part-time, long-distance Ph.D. program at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, focusing on the conservation of Hispaniolan Parrots and Parakeets. Since 2015, Andrea has worked as Projects Manager for Grupo Jaragua, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving biodiversity on Hispaniola. Her research interests include threatened bird ecology and species’ responses to changing forest landscapes. She is also active in advocacy for Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and is a strong proponent of conservation messaging through social media.
“As Vice-President of BirdsCaribbean, I want to focus on inter-island knowledge-sharing and strengthening bonds between members. I hope to support new networking, leadership, and capacity-building opportunities during our biennial conferences”
Email: Andrea.Thomen@BIrdsCaribbean.org
Secretary: Jody Daniel, Ph.D.
Grenada and USA
Jody Daniel has been a member of BirdsCaribbean since 2013. She co-organized the 19th International Meeting in Grenada and has presented research at multiple conferences, including those in Cuba (2017), Guadeloupe (2019), and Puerto Rico (2022). She currently co-leads R programming workshops for the “Building Capacity for Landbird Monitoring and Conservation in the Caribbean” project and co-led the “Uniting for Conservation: Regional Collaboration Workshop” at the 2024 conference.
Jody holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Waterloo, where her research focused on climate impacts on wetland communities. She serves as Technical Advisor for the National Adaptation Plan Global Network, Data Scientist at PartnerRe, and President of the Gaea Conservation Network. Her research experience ranges from Arctic seabirds to Caribbean mangroves, with recent work addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems and the use of fuzzy cognitive mapping in conservation. In Grenada, she has led the development of standardized mangrove restoration protocols and works to protect the critically endangered Grenada Dove.
“I hope to support the strengthening of connections between Caribbean organizations working on bird conservation, while also making the analysis of bird monitoring data more accessible to practitioners in the region.“
Treasurer: Nicholas Sorenson
USA | Resident of Boston, Massachusetts
Nicholas (Nick) Sorenson has supported BirdsCaribbean as a monthly donor since 2016 and is now a formal member and Treasurer. The son of two ornithologists, Nick has traveled extensively in the Caribbean and has spent his life immersed in nature. He brings strong financial and analytical expertise to the board, with a background in consulting, financial strategy, and operations management.
Nick has held roles at Wellington Management Company, the Michel-Shaked Group, and Lovepop, and currently serves as a Senior Manager of Operations Business Analytics at Wayfair and as Managing Partner at Ventus Advisors. He has advised startups on funding strategies, business development, and data-driven solutions. He holds a B.A. in Economics and has served on the Alumni Advisory Committee for Boston University’s Student Managed Investment Fund.
“As Treasurer, my focus is to help BirdsCaribbean align its finances and operations with its broader strategy and business development plans, which together will chart out a clear path for the organization to grow and manage its primary sources of funds (e.g., grants, donors, corporate sponsors, bird tourism, etc.). I’ve worked with a number of startups as an advisor to help them develop customized financial/data-driven solutions, create external presentations, raise funding from investors, and optimize all aspects of the business. I’m excited about the possibilities for BirdsCaribbean because of my familiarity with its valuable work.”
Email: njsoren@bu.edu
Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (JCO) Editor-in-Chief: Joseph Wunderle, Ph.D.
USA | Resident of Puerto Rico and Georgia
Joseph (Joe) Wunderle is a founding member of BirdsCaribbean (formerly the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds) and has served in multiple leadership roles, including Vice President and President of the Board. He contributed to the society’s first constitution and bylaws, co-organized conferences in Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Guadeloupe, and chaired the Founders Awards Committee recognizing student presentations. He has also been instrumental in fundraising and grant proposal development for workshops and conferences, and has presented at nearly every meeting since 1988.
Joe completed his Ph.D. research on the genetics, behavior, and ecology of the Bananaquit in Grenada, where he lived for six years and taught marine biology in the Grenadines. He later taught and conducted research with the Organization for Tropical Studies in Costa Rica and at North Carolina State University. He joined the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey as a biology professor before becoming a Research Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry in 1988, a position he held for 30 years until retirement. He continues as an adjunct professor at the University of Puerto Rico, advising graduate students in ecology and ornithology.
His research has focused on disturbance ecology and the effects of hurricanes, drought, agriculture, and selective logging on bird populations. Joe has authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific publications on Caribbean avian ecology and conservation. He has mentored numerous students and early-career researchers across the region and remains an active contributor to Caribbean ornithology.
“I plan to continue to help strengthen BirdsCaribbean’s programs in education, outreach, advocacy, and the transfer of scientific knowledge to build local capacity for avian research and conservation of Caribbean birds. As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, I aim to build on the efforts of Jim Wiley and subsequent editors and their staff to increase the visibility and utility of the journal; encourage publication by Caribbean nationals; and ensure the sustainability of JCO as an open access journal. JCO has an important role to play by facilitating communication among ornithologists, naturalists, and conservationists working in the region and by serving as a repository for studies of Caribbean endemic bird species and other species of conservation concern.”
Email: jmwunderle@gmail.com
Director-at-Large: Jacqueline Andre
Dominica
Jacqueline (Jackie) Andre has been a member of BirdsCaribbean since 2013 and has participated in four international conferences—in Grenada, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico. She has led numerous Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival activities in Dominica and continues to be a passionate advocate for environmental education.
Jackie is a retired from her role Forest Officer with the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division in Dominica and Head of the National Parks Unit. She holds a degree in Natural Resource Recreation Management from Virginia Tech and previously served as the Environmental Education Officer for the Forestry Division. Her volunteer work spans outreach, nature tourism, and connecting people—especially youth—with nature through hands-on experiences.
“As a Director-At-Large, I want to help foster more education programs that would in turn create much-needed awareness and bring a deeper appreciation for nature in the Caribbean.”
Email: jamina64@gmail.com
Director-at-Large: Terry Root, Ph.D.
USA | Resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Terry Root is a renowned ecologist and climate scientist and currently serving on the BirdsCaribbean board for a third term. She has participated in two of the organization’s Cuba birding tours and is a monthly donor. Terry has served on the boards of several conservation organizations, including National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Point Blue Conservation Science, and the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute.
Terry was a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report, which shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore in 2007. She also contributed to the IPCC’s Third and Fifth Assessment Reports. She spent 15 years as a professor at the University of Michigan and 15 more at Stanford University. Now retired, she serves as a science advisor to numerous organizations and continues to advocate for climate-informed conservation.
“I have worked my entire career on how climate disruption has influenced the biology of wild plants and animals, and how that influence has grave potential of facilitating the extinction of a quarter to half of the species on the planet. I believe my skills and expertise can help BirdsCaribbean advance its mission of raising awareness, promoting sound science and empowering local partners to build a region in the Caribbean where people appreciate, conserve and benefit from thriving bird populations and ecosystems.”
Email: troot@stanford.edu
Director-at-Large: David Ewart, Ph.D.
USA | Resident of East Lansing, Michigan
David (Dave) Ewert has attended five BirdsCaribbean conferences—in The Bahamas, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic—and has supported the development of the James Kushlan Endowed Fund. A conservation scientist with over four decades of experience, Dave has worked extensively on habitat management and migratory bird conservation in the Caribbean and the Great Lakes.
He earned his Ph.D. with a dissertation on the song of the Eastern Towhee and taught at Central Michigan University before joining The Nature Conservancy (TNC), where he held science roles across multiple regions. He later joined the American Bird Conservancy, where he continues work focused on the conservation of Kirtland’s Warblers, particularly in their wintering habitat in The Bahamas.
Dave is also active in the Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team and has collaborated with colleagues like Robert Askins to study overwintering migrants in the Virgin Islands National Park. His recent work explores how hurricanes and habitat disturbance affect both migratory and resident bird species.
“I plan to focus on the application of science to conservation programs while building local capacity in the Caribbean. I also hope to support the establishment and long-term protection of sites that benefit resident and migratory birds, especially endemics.”
Director-at-Large: Greg Butcher, Ph.D.
USA | Resident of Reston, Virginia
Greg Butcher began attending BirdsCaribbean conferences in 2013 in Grenada and has remained actively involved ever since. He has helped secure consistent support for BirdsCaribbean through his role with the U.S. Forest Service International Programs, where he served as Migratory Species Coordinator until retiring in 2022.
Greg’s ornithological career spans many prominent organizations, including National Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BirdLife International, Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, and Partners in Flight. He is a sought-after speaker and interpreter of bird conservation and ecology.
Greg has worked on shorebird, waterbird, grassland, and forest bird conservation projects throughout the Western Hemisphere. He brings a wealth of technical and strategic expertise, along with a passion for empowering local leaders across the Caribbean.
“BirdsCaribbean is my favorite bird conservation group by far. We’re naturally diverse—in nationality, language, approach, and personality. My goal is to help Caribbean residents achieve their conservation goals and build lasting impact.”
Director-at-Large: Niren Sirohi, M.B.A., Ph.D.
USA | Resident of Lexington, Massachusetts
Previous or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Joined Board in July 2023. Nationality: USA Residence: Lexington, MA Experience: Niren grew up in India and did his undergrad in Mechanical Engineering. After that, he did an MBA in Marketing and worked in marketing and sales at Wipro, one of the largest computer firms in India. At that point he came to the US for higher education and did his PhD in Business Management at Cornell. In 1999 he moved to Boston and since then has worked for several consulting firms like Oliver Wyman and the Boston Consulting Group, helping his clients in both the for profit and not-for-profit sectors optimize and scale their operations and make better use of data and analytics to drive both strategic and tactical decision making. Currently, he heads up the operational analytics function at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, an internationally recognized academic cancer center. A few years ago, Niren started to follow the red-tailed hawks at Cornell, interact with the birding community and birders on the ground in the area, and got introduced to the big beautiful world of birds. From there he became interested in the conservation and protection of birds and grassroots approaches to conservation, and started to explore ways in which he could apply his skills towards the larger cause of protecting birds and their habitats, which is what drew him to BirdsCaribbean.
“I am humbled to be part of this dedicated organization, and am looking forward to contribute to the wonderful work BirdsCaribbean is doing in fostering grassroots conservation in the Caribbean region. I look forward to supporting the organization in this time of growth, and to enabling them to scale the amazing work they are doing to empower local island communities to protect our environment for birds and people, and mitigate the harmful effects of climate change.”
Email: sirohiniren@gmail.com
Director-at-Large: Chris Rimmer
USA | Resident of Norwich, Vermont
Chris Rimmer has been a member of BirdsCaribbean since 2004 and has participated in and presented at many of its international conferences over the past two decades. He co-founded the International Bicknell’s Thrush Working Group, which regularly convenes at BirdsCaribbean meetings, and has served as an associate editor of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology since 2023.
Chris is co-founder and Director Emeritus of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), a nonprofit wildlife conservation organization. He holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont and an M.S. in Ecology and Behavioral Biology from the University of Minnesota, where he studied Yellow Warblers on the remote James Bay coast. Chris has conducted fieldwork from the Arctic to Antarctica, and his career has focused on the full life-cycle conservation of Bicknell’s Thrush from breeding grounds in the northeastern U.S. and Canada to wintering habitats in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
Chris has played an important role in mentoring young conservation biologists in the Greater Antilles, especially in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Now retired, he continues to collaborate with VCE and other partners, volunteers on local conservation initiatives, and is an avid birder.
“ I have been an unabashed enthusiast of BirdsCaribbean since I attended my first conference in Santo Domingo more than 25 years ago, and my connection has only deepened. I can not imagine a more vibrant, diverse, passionate, and fun-loving collection of people committed to bird conservation. The challenges are huge, the opportunities equally enormous and promising. I look forward to continuing my association, and helping promote the tremendously important work that BirdsCaribbean and its partners do.”
Email: ccrimmer@gmail.com
Luis Migenis, Esq.
Puerto Rico and USA | Resident of Guaynabo, PR and Winter Haven, FL
Luis Migenis is a lifelong bird enthusiast whose early love for nature began on childhood walks with his grandmother in Puerto Rico. Though new to BirdsCaribbean, he brings extensive professional expertise in environmental law and policy, permitting, and education.
Luis holds a B.S. and J.D. from the University of Puerto Rico, where he also completed graduate coursework in biology. Early in his career, he worked as a field technician with the U.S. Forest Service at the Bisley Experimental Watersheds, and later as an environmental specialist for a major engineering firm. In these roles, he managed permitting processes, evaluated environmental impacts, and coordinated with government agencies.
He has practiced environmental and land use law for nearly 30 years and has taught environmental policy and legislation at the graduate level. Luis is also a certified reforestation professional and wetland delineator. His cross-disciplinary background allows him to advocate for conservation across legal, scientific, and community platforms.
“It is a true honor for me to collaborate with such a wonderful organization. I look forward to contributing in any way I can to bird conservation and education efforts in my beloved Caribbean.”
Past President: Andrew Dobson, MBA
United Kingdom
UKPrevious or current links with BirdsCaribbean: Member since 2001, President of the Board 2005–2008 and 2017–2020, and led BirdsCaribbean tours to Cuba in 2019 and 2020. Nationality: British Residence: Cambridge, UK Experience: Andrew was educated in the UK and has a B.A. in Economics (University of East Anglia), Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (Bristol University) and M.B.A. (Educational Management) University of Leicester. Andrew taught in Bermuda for over 28 years. He served on the executive of the Bermuda Audubon Society 1990–2018 including many terms as President. He produced the Society’s newsletter during that period and developed their website. He organized birdwatching courses, field trips, an annual bird camp, and coordinated the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival and International Migratory Bird Day events in Bermuda. Since 1995 he has been a regional editor for the journal North American Birds. He attended his first BirdsCaribbean conference in Cuba in 2001 and has since served twice as the Society’s President. In 2002, his ‘Birdwatching Guide to Bermuda’ was published. He has co-authored articles on Bermuda’s IBAs and Bermuda’s birds. A keen photographer, his bird photos have appeared in many publications. He is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and a BirdLife International Rare Bird Club member. In 2018 he received an honour from Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the protection of Bermuda’s natural environment and his work with the Audubon Society. Andrew recently retired from teaching and moved back to the UK with his family where he remains active in birding and conservation action.
“I am honored to be part of an amazingly dedicated team committed to supporting such important bird conservation work in the Caribbean region. The Society reaches thousands of people in the region with its educational programs. I am proud of the response that BirdsCaribbean has given to island communities in the aftermath of recent disastrous hurricanes, especially the resources supplied quickly to feed starving bird populations. In an unprecedented period of climate change, I look forward to being part of a team working with local communities to create a better environment for both people and birds.”
Email: andrew.dobson@birdscaribbean.org