Leadership

The board of directors and advisory council of NYC Bird Alliance (formerly NYC Audubon) are made up of diverse and dynamic individuals who volunteer their time, offering guidance and expertise in a wide range of issues that steer the organization's work and amplify our mission.


Board of Directors

As fiduciaries of the organization, the NYC Bird Alliance's board of directors guides the organization's work in conservation, engagement, and advocacy.  

Board Officers

President - Michael Yuan
Executive Vice President - Linda N. Freeman, MD
Treasurer - Drianne Benner
Secretary - Sharon Weidberg
Immediate Past President - Karen Benfield*
Vice Presidents - Marsilia A. Boyle, Shawn Cargil, Christian Cooper, Michael Tannen, and Richard Veit, PhD

Board Committees

Through committees, board members work in partnership with staff to set strategic priorities for our work.
Executive - Michael Yuan, chair
Advocacy - Marsilia A. Boyle, chair
Audit - Sharon Weidberg, chair
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility - Angie Co, chair
Finance - Drianne Benner and Andre Meade, co-chairs
Fundraising - Michael Tannen, chair
Marketing and Communications - Kyu Lee, chair
Nominating - Jeffrey Kimball*, chair
Personnel - Michael Yuan and Linda Freeman, co-chairs
Public Programs - Georgia Silvera Seamans, PhD, chair
Science - Richard Veit, PhD, chair

Additional leadership groups:
Publications - Lauren Klingsberg, chair
Special Events (Fall Roost gala planning committee)

Interested in getting involved? 

Board Service 
Members of the board of directors are elected by the organization's membership in June for three-year terms. To make our board more representative of the City’s diverse population, we are especially interested in candidates who represent new perspectives, backgrounds, and communities including residents of Staten Island, Queens, and the Bronx; as well as candidates with finance, operations, and legal expertise. Submit suggestions to Jeffrey Kimball, chair of the nominating committee, at nominations@nycbirdalliance.org.

Join a Committee
Many of our committees listed above include non-board members, whose professional expertise helps us extend our reach. If you are interested in joining a committee, contact board president Michael Yuan (mike@nycbirdalliance.org). 


Full Board Roster

Advisory Council

NYC Bird Alliance's advisory council provides valuable insight, expertise, and counsel to the work of the organization. Advisory council members includes past directors, adjunct committee members, and experts working in the fields of science, conservation, communications, education, real estate, law, advocacy, and more.

If you are interested in sharing your expertise and joining our advisory council, please contact Mike Yuan, president of the board, at mike@nycbirdalliance.org.

Advisory Council Members

Richard T. Andrias
Gina Argento
Sarah Grimké Aucoin
Seth Ausubel
Claude Bloch, MD
Ronald Bourque*
Cliff Case
Rebekah Creshkoff
Andrew Darrell
Joseph H. Ellis
Alexander (Sandy) Ewing
Andrew Farnsworth, PhD
Mike Feller
Marcia T. Fowle*
Ellen Hartig
Catherine Schragis Heller
Lynne Hertzog
Sarah Jeffords
Tatiana Kaletsch
Mary Jane Kaplan
Robert J. Kimtis
Lauren Klingsberg
Janice Laneve
Mary Leou
Lawrence Levine
Pamela Manice
Jennifer Maritz
Dorothy M. Peteet, PhD
Don Riepe
Lewis Rosenberg**
John Shemilt
David Speiser
Alan Steel 
Tom Stephenson
Shino Tanikawa
 
* Past President
** Founding Board Member