Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa

Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa is an Assistant Professor of Conservation Science at the University of California, Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management. Her work bridges Neotropical ornithology, conservation psychology, and environmental policy to understand human-nature relationships. She collaborates with governments and communities to co-develop evidence-based conservation strategies.

Education:

• BSc in Biology (Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, 2012)
• MSc in Resource Management (University of British Columbia, 2015)
• PhD in Resources, Environment, and Sustainability (University of British Columbia, 2019)

Research focuses on how human behaviors impact biodiversity through habitat modification and cultural values. Notable projects include policy analysis in Colombia and Costa Rica, stakeholder perception studies, and integrating social sciences with ecological data. Her lab emphasizes equitable conservation practices and advancing Latinx representation in STEM.

Awards:

• Pritzker Emerging Environmental Genius Award Nominee (2021)
• Stanford Postdoc JEDI Champion Award (2021)
• Freda Pagani Dissertation Award (2020)

Advocacy includes UN Youth advocacy, National Geographic exploration, and media engagement via The Washington Post and Forbes. She prioritizes training the next generation of conservation scientists and advancing justice-centered environmental policies.