Sonia brings her passion and commitment to environmental and social causes. She is interested in bridging the gap between science and the real world. Sonia has over 15 years of experience in conservation, working across academia, nonprofits, and consulting sectors both in the US and internationally. Her work focuses on nature conservation, restoration, and protection, with the primary goal of creating more resilient communities. Sonia also contributes her expertise in strategic planning, operations, program management, fundraising, and interdisciplinary research. She has led diverse initiatives in land use planning, ecosystem services, sustainable development, climate adaptation, and forest monitoring. She holds a master’s degree in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona. Her doctoral research explored how ecosystem services can be integrated into land use planning to achieve environmental, economic, and social goals in developing countries. She is interested in participatory approaches that ensure the voices of the communities are heard. Her work combines scientific evidence with traditional knowledge. Before pursuing her doctorate, she worked with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Paraguay, implementing several conservation projects that involved decision makers, community leaders, and university researchers. 

She enjoys learning about other cultures and spending time outdoors, including hiking and camping.