Meet Our Staff
Jamison Watts, Executive Director
(831) 402-9694
Jamison is a conservation executive with over 30 years’ experience providing vision, leadership, and technical expertise in the protection and stewardship of land and other natural and agricultural resources.
As Santa Lucia Conservancy’s Executive Director, Jamison collaborates with a talented staff and board, community members, and national conservation leaders to advance a unique, first-of-its kind model of community conservation. Responsible for conservation and community engagement on the 20,000-acre Santa Lucia Preserve, he works in close partnership with multiple Preserve entities to ensure the coordinated management of the Preserve lands are consistent with the successful and sustained implementation of the Preserve’s Comprehensive Development Plan.
Prior to working for the Conservancy, Jamison served for seven years as Executive Director of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT)—the first agricultural land trust in the Nation. Much of Jamison’s work at MALT involved interacting with stakeholders and owners of agricultural land in Marin County to increase economic viability and prevent conversion out of agriculture. During his tenure, the acreage conserved by MALT increased by 20% to more than 54,000 acres.
Earlier he led the Northern California Regional Land Trust, based in Chico, for six years. During his tenure the organization’s operations increased by nearly 600% and total acres protected more than tripled. Jamison also served as a climbing ranger with the U.S. Forest Service on the Shasta Trinity National Forest and a biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A fifth-generation Californian, Jamison has served on the City of Chico’s Parks and Playground Commission, the Advisory Committee of the Bay Area Open Space Council, Marin County’s Agricultural Workforce Housing Task Force, and Marin Carbon Project Steering Committee. He has expertise in business development and is an accomplished fundraiser and public speaker. He also has more than 10 years’ experience researching and consulting on special-status species as a wildlife biologist
Jamison lives with his wife and daughter in Carmel Valley, where he enjoys walking the family dog, Honor, in Garland Ranch Regional Park and exploring the Central Coast region.
Keesha Stroman, Director of Finance and Administration
(831) 250-3817
Keesha organizes and oversees the Conservancy’s daily operations including finance, Human Resources, IT, facilities management, and administration. With over 20 years in the accounting and finance field, Keesha has had the opportunity to utilize her knowledge and skills in the service, television, manufacturing, non-profit and agricultural industries. She has a proven track record of maximizing employee engagement and creating successful workplace culture through training, collaborative communication, and morale-building techniques. In addition to receiving an AS in Accounting and BS in Business Administration/Human Resources Management, Keesha has extensively studied with the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) for the PHRca and SPHR exams and is a member of both the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR). Outside of work, Keesha enjoys spending time with her family and volunteers as a youth basketball coach, high school booster club member, and youth football board member. She attributes her ability to juggle everything on her plate successfully to her loving husband, McTate, who is a top notch father, partner, and a spoken word artist.
Nicole Roy, Finance & Administration Coordinator
(831) 402-0554
Nicole assists with the coordination and organization of the conservancy’s daily operations. She has lived in Mexico City, Marin County, Connecticut, San Diego, and currently resides here in Carmel. She went to college for graphic design and marketing in San Diego and has over 20 years of combined experience in office management, administration, property management, public relations, and human resources. Nicole truly enjoys helping others and is passionate about conserving the environment and wildlife within it. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys photography, art, hiking, gardening, kayaking, snorkeling, traveling, and camping. She also loves floral and landscape design, decorating, volunteering, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Alix Soliman, Communications & Outreach Coordinator
(831) 620-9644
Originally from Illinois, Alix earned her B.A. in environmental studies concentrated in international law and policy from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. She comes to us with over 6 years of experience in writing for, editing, and designing various newspapers, law school magazines, and nonprofit websites. In her previous role at a steelhead conservation nonprofit in the Pacific Northwest, Alix developed a multi-tiered approach to provide more organizational clarity and engagement through digital and in-person communications. Passionate about land conservation and community building, Alix is thrilled to support the Conservancy’s mission by elevating its transparency and status in The Preserve community and beyond. Her work at the Conservancy involves developing digital and print resources, hosting events, building partnerships, and managing the website, newsletter and social media platforms. After hours, Alix can be found rock climbing, skiing, longboarding, hiking, and reading.
Andrew Nguyen, Stewardship Manager
(831) 238-0990
Originally from Fairfax County, Virginia, Andrew received a B.S. in Biology concentrated on Ecology and Environmental Biology from James Madison University. Afterwards, he attended UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management where he conducted research on how beaver dam-building could support water resource management in New Mexico, earning him a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree. Since then, he has served as an AmeriCorps member to protect Vermont’s watersheds and most recently worked to connect artists with the natural beauty of the Santa Cruz mountains. He is excited to join the Santa Lucia Conservancy team and looks forward to how he can continue finding solutions for people and the natural world to help each other thrive.
Sarah Jeffries, Stewardship Associate
(831) 238-2210
Sarah was previously an editor for the Journal of Phycology where she utilized her editorial and communication skills as well as her scientific expertise. She also concurrently worked for the Bureau of Land Management on the Fort Ord National Monument, where she spearheaded a field project assessing the efficacy of the habitat restoration program and mentored undergraduates in native plant identification and field research methods. Originally from Minnesota, Sarah was drawn to the Monterey Bay by her love of the land and sea and has been here for over 15 years. As an undergraduate at CSU Monterey Bay in Marine and Coastal Ecology, Sarah’s interest in terrestrial and marine plants began first with an internship with the National Park service at Santa Monica Mountains NRA and then an undergraduate research position focused on seaweed at Moss Landing Marine Labs. MLML became her home away from home for the next decade, where she earned her masters’ degree in the Phycology Lab, worked for a wetland plant propagation and restoration program, and participated in countless research dives (including a memorable scuba diving course in Chile!) In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading a book with a good cup of tea, and exploring the many trails of Fort Ord – her favorite hiking spot on the peninsula. She has also traveled widely with her family.
Claudio Núñez, Conservation Grazing Manager
(831) 238-4342
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in music from The University of Michigan, Claudio began working in bars and restaurants across the US. It was while working as a cheesemonger in San Francisco that he discovered the earth-shaping potential of conservation on working lands. For over 6 years, Claudio has worked on farms, ranches and wineries across the country and in Europe. As the Conservation Grazing Manager, Claudio leads program development, planning, and implementation of the day-to-day operations that facilitate the use of cattle for land management. Claudio works with program associates to help move cattle through the undulating grassland landscape and collects vegetation and soil data in support of the Program’s goals and objectives. In his spare time, Claudio enjoys hiking, overeating, and making crafts.
Andrew Evans, Conservation Grazing Associate
(831) 238-5495
With a BS in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from UCLA, Andrew is passionate about promoting coexistence between people and the environment through conservation, restoration, and sustainable practices. He grew up in Hawaii, worked on a trail crew in Denali National Park, participated in a field study program in Iceland, researched marmot behavior in the Rocky Mountains, studied the morphology of dog skulls in Los Angeles, and interned at an organic farm in Tennessee. Andrew practices what he preaches by incorporating sustainability into every day life: eating a kelp, shellfish, and plant-based diet, avoiding plastic at all costs, and engaging with indigenous ecological knowledge.
Belle Watkins, Conservation Grazing Associate
(831) 250-3971
Belle cares for the Conservancy’s cattle herd, builds and removes portable fencing, and tends to our grassland habitat as a Grazing Associate. Prior to joining SLC, she worked in food service, pet care, and customer service, her most recent position being the Monterey Bay Aquarium Cafe. Belle is excited to learn all of the grassland plant species on The Preserve. After work, she loves to be outside whenever possible, go for ocean plunges, swim, create, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Breanna Rodgers, Restoration Manager
(831) 392-5392
Breanna earned her B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz, where she led forest ecology research crews to inventory and monitor mixed forest ecosystems, completed a thesis modeling forest succession following rapid dieback of and madrone and tanoak trees in the Santa Cruz mountains, and developed horticultural and greenhouse experience working at the UCSC Arboretum and Botanical Garden. After college, Breanna worked as an Americorps member for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Maui, where she managed a habitat restoration program on 80 acres following wildfire to reintroduce native lowland dryland vegetation to the refuge. She also managed the refuge greenhouse, producing over 8,000 plants for restoration per year. At California State Parks, she gained experience in wildlife biology, restoration, and weed management in the San Luis Obispo Coast District. Throughout her time working in California and Hawaii, Breanna has also taken on several part-time jobs at organic and regenerative agriculture farms where she could form close relationships to the land and the community. At the Conservancy, Breanna leads restoration efforts on The Preserve, assists with biological monitoring, and manages fuel reduction and prescribed fire projects. In her free time, Breanna loves cooking, playing music and making ceramics.
Rue, Cattle Dog
Rue joined the Conservancy staff after rigorous training in becoming a cattle dog. As a short-haired border collie weighing under 30 pounds, Rue moves over 100,000 pounds of cattle between our managed grasslands. Even so, like us all, she sometimes confuses clockwise and counterclockwise. Her obedience, focus, collaboration, and support contribute to the Conservation Grazing Program and Ecological Management Department’s efficient operations. Often found stationed underneath Grazing Program trucks, Rue may not be the friendliest to other dogs, but is a softy for human affection and treats.