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Staff

Matthew Campa
Legal Fellow

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Matthew Campa graduated magna cum laude from Lewis and Clark Law School in May, 2022. While at Lewis and Clark, Matthew took first place in the National Environmental Moot Court competition, served as the chair for the Northwest Environmental Defense Center’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, and clerked for Earthrise Law Center and Neighbors for Clean Air. Matthew also worked extensivley on wetland preservation in Alaska through section 404 of the CWA. In recognition of his commitment to conservation, Matthew was selected as Lewis and Clark’s 2022 Wyss Scholarship recipient. In his free time, Matthew enjoys fishing, reading, and playing poker.

Schuyler Capita
Watershed Program Intern

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Originally from San Diego, Schuyler is an undergraduate Environmental Studies and Religious Studies student at UCSB with an emphasis in Ecosystem Restoration.  An impassioned environmentalist, Schuyler serves his community both as the Watershed Protection Intern for the EDC and as a Landscape Restoration Technician at Channel Islands Restoration. Schuyler also assists with vegetation monitoring for The Nature Conservancy’s ice plant removal project at Point Conception. Schuyler is dedicated to ensuring that future generations retain access to the myriad natural wonders that define Santa Barbara. In his spare time, Schuyler can be found bouldering, birding, backpacking, or embarking on a quest to a new National Park.

Ashley Caras
Event Coordinator Assistant Intern

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Ashley is a recent graduate from UC Santa Barbara, having obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Marine Biology and Terrestrial Ecology. In the past, she has worked with several nonprofit organizations centered around environmental education and climate change advocacy. Later on, she would like to attend a master’s program in Restoration Ecology or a similar field in hopes of protecting our nation’s precious natural resources for generations to come!

Lauren Davis
HR Consultant

Lauren is a Human Resources professional, and has spent nearly 20-years working with both for-profit and non-profit clients in a variety of different industries. She is the President and Principal Consultant of KLJD Consulting, providing HR guidance to many businesses in Santa Barbara and throughout California. Lauren has supported EDC’s human resources needs since the beginning of 2022.

Azsha Hudson

Azsha Hudson
Marine Conservation Analyst

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Azsha graduated from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD with a M.A.S. in marine biodiversity and conservation. While studying at Scripps, Azsha worked with California Marine Sanctuary Foundation as a research analyst , conducting research on the conservation status, health, and threats towards California’s estuaries. Azsha enjoys hiking (in the fall and winter), paddle boarding in San Diego Bay, and reading at parks with her dog. 

Venessa Hutchins
Office Manager & Event Coordinator

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Venessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Science in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island. Venessa joined the EDC in 2023 after more than 15 years of work in Higher Education Student Affairs.  During her time working with college students, Venessa remained connected to her passion for the outdoors and environmental protection through the planning of camping trips and retreats, day and weekend trips to the Channel Islands, and events related to marine conservation and environmental justice. Venessa enjoys supporting the great work of the EDC through administrative assistance to the staff, management of our volunteer program, and event coordination.

Maggie Hall
Deputy Chief Counsel

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Before joining EDC, Maggie worked at Los Angeles Waterkeeper and was a law clerk at the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, Earthjustice, and Earthrise Law Center. She holds a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and a B.A. from New York University. During law school, Maggie argued before Chief Justice John Roberts in the Advocate of the Year Competition, and was a member of the first place team in a national moot court competition. She has also co-authored an article in the Natural Resources Journal on Ninth Circuit administrative law. In her free time, Maggie enjoys stand up paddle boarding, hiking, travel, and yoga.

Alex Katz
Executive Director

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Alex joined EDC in 2023, bringing 25 years of experience in public service and communications to the fight for environmental protection. He has worked at every level of government in California – local, state, and federal – and is deeply committed to climate action, conservation, and environmental justice. He has served in leadership roles including as a senior staff member for Congresswoman Barbara Lee and as Chief of Staff in the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, where he helped to initiate major climate litigation against some of the biggest fossil fuel companies in the world. Alex previously worked as a newspaper reporter in Southern California and the Bay Area. In 2022, he completed the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program at UC Berkeley.

Rachel Kondor
Staff Attorney

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Rachel joined EDC in 2021. After working for environmental advocacy organizations in Arizona, Rachel spent more than a decade working for federal lawmakers, as senior legislative assistant on environmental and tribal matters to Congressman Raúl Grijalva, and later as a local representative of Congresswoman Lois Capps. She has served on the boards of several environmental non-profits, including the California Wilderness Coalition, and Natural Allies. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and her Juris Doctor from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland with a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law. Rachel is an active and dedicated volunteer on political campaigns, from local to national races, and everything in between.

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Linda Krop
Chief Counsel

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Linda has worked at EDC as a staff attorney since 1989 and as Chief Counsel since 1999. Linda’s specialties include fighting offshore oil and gas development, protecting natural resources, and preserving open space lands. Linda’s successes include the unprecedented termination of 40 federal oil and gas leases offshore California, defeat of several specific oil drilling projects, and preservation of important areas for public access and ecological protection, including Hearst Ranch, Ellwood, Carpinteria Bluffs and Sedgwick Ranch. Linda represented the conservation community on the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council from 1998-2013, and teaches Environmental Law at UCSB.

Pearl Lee
Accounting Manager

Pearl has managed EDC’s finances since 2015. Pearl has provided bookkeeping services for many nonprofits and local businesses in the Santa Barbara area. When she is not at work you will find her with her two golden retrievers at the dog park or on the beach.

Pamme Mickelson
Development Director
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Pamme brings over 15 years of nonprofit development experience to EDC. She has significant experience coordinating and executing events through her time working in the corporate hospitality industry. She then transitioned to working with nonprofits at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Sansum Diabetes Research Center, and Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center.  Before moving to Santa Barbara with her husband and dogs in 2011, Pamme lived in Texas for 30 years. She values making the world a better place for humans and the diversity of life through her work, and spends her time off with family and friends, working creatively on hobbies, and traveling.

Lily Purvis
Administrative Assistant
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Lily Purvis is an undergraduate student at UC Santa Barbara, working towards earning a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in Media Communications. She was born and raised in Santa Barbara and has long enjoyed many of the amazing local places that the EDC has helped to preserve and protect. An awarded Mock Trial Attorney, she competed in Santa Barbara County for three years. After completing her degree at UCSB she hopes to attend graduate school for Media Communications, dedicated to learning how to use media to protect the environment and support environmental organizations like the EDC. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, exploring with her dog Daisy, good music, and sports games

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Brian Trautwein
Senior Analyst/Watershed Program Director

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Brian grew up in Goleta beginning in 1970, attended local schools including UCSB, graduated with High Honors in 1990 and earned various accolades including the Environmental Studies Department’s first Outstanding Alumni Award. Brian founded the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council in 1987 and served as the group’s Executive Director until 1997. Brian received the statewide Outstanding Organizer Award after increasing the Council’s membership from 150 to 3,000 in one year.  A stream restoration manager and biologist, he was named California Trout’s Streamkeeper. Brian has twice been recognized as a Santa Barbara Independent Local Hero before beginning his tenure at EDC.

Brandi Webber
Office Manager & Event Coordinator

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Brandi brings a vibrant energy and a wealth of experience to our team as our Office Manager and Event Coordinator. With a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from UCSB, she embarked on a remarkable journey as an editor and cartographer at Maps.com for over 16 years, honing her skills in organization and event planning along the way. Most recently, Brandi’s adventures led her into the realms of medical and advertising sales, broadening her skill set even further. Known for her natural charisma and genuine interest in others, Brandi excels in building strong relationships with her team and the local community. A SB Local for over 25 years, Brandi feels privileged to join the EDC, championing our environmental legacy. Outside of work, you’ll find Brandi indulging her love for travel, hiking, live music, cooking, camping, and spreading positivity wherever she goes.

Betsy Weber
Assistant Director

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Betsy joined EDC in 2007 after working at the Wyoming Wilderness Association to protect and expand federal Wilderness Areas in her home state. She serves as the interface between EDC and the public by coordinating community outreach and education initiatives, along with EDC’s array of public, media, and online communications. Betsy also conducts operations administration and event planning. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

April Zhang
Advocacy Intern

April Zhang is an undergraduate student at UCSB from Shenzhen, China. She is working with EDC’s attorneys to analyze the status of the previously erupted Plains All American pipelines through resources such as the Public Records Act and interviews with officials. While pursuing her B.S. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Spatial Studies, she is also President of the UCSB Model UN team and Section Editor of the campus newspaper. In her free time, April enjoys being an amateur landscape photographer, building Legos, and reading.

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