Bios - Albuquerque Wildlife Federation

AWF OFFICERS

michael scialdone - president

Michael Scialdone, or “Scial” (shel) as he is called, grew up in El Paso, TX. After an extended college "career" where he kept taking time off to explore the West, he finally got his Environmental Science degree in 1997 from Sul Ross State University. Located in Alpine, TX, its backyard is Big Bend National Park, still one of his favorite places. His travels led to an interest in public lands issues, particularly in the environmental impact of human uses. This led to jobs out of college coordinating inventories of roads and human impacts in Utah and then New Mexico.

It became clear to Scial that the most important concern is what happens on the ground. He established a volunteer program with a focus on restoration. A fortuitous early partner in these projects was AWF. Both benefited from increased participation and organization, and he feels fortunate to have continued involvement with AWF’s Volunteer Service Projects. Scial serves as Projects Committee Chair for 2011.

glenda muirhead - secretary/treasurer

An AWF member since 1992, Glenda served two years as President (2009 and 2010), and is now serving as Secretary/Treasurer. One of her favorite activities with AWF is participating in the habitat projects. In addition, she publishes the monthly AWF newsletter.

After living in the East Mountains since 1983, Glenda and her husband Dennis moved into Albuquerque in July 2011. Born in Buffalo, New York, she has worked in communications and financial administration, but prefers to spend time in volunteer work. She earned a BA in Literature in 1973 and MBA in 1981.

Among her objectives as an AWF Board member are “to help the organization distinguish itself in the conservation community as a unique entity with valuable goals and diverse participants.”

kristina gray fisher - vice president

Kristina grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her early years of exploring the arroyos and piñon-juniper forests of her home led to a deep love of the landscape and a commitment to working to protect it. In 2008, Kristina graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where she earned a Certificate in Natural Resources and Environmental Law and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources Journal. Kristina currently serves as Associate Director of Think New Mexico, a results-oriented think tank dedicated to improving the quality of life for all New Mexicans, and is a member of the board of the Santa Fe Watershed Association.

Kristina began participating in AWF’s habitat improvement projects in 2009, alongside her partner, Phil Carter. She was inspired by the opportunity to learn from restoration pioneer Bill Zeedyk and work with so many wonderful people who share her passion for New Mexico’s environment. In 2010, Kristina advised the AWF board on its successful application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. In her first term on the board, Kristina hopes to help keep the habitat projects running smoothly and assist with outreach and fundraising efforts to keep AWF going strong.