Our Team

Adrian grew up in Rochester, NY and became immersed in the world of raptors after volunteering at an education facility called Wild Wings, Inc. Shortly after obtaining a B.S. in conservation biology from SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, NY, Adrian accepted a position as the rehabilitation intern at Teton Raptor Center in May of 2017. It was at TRC where he developed many of the relationships and skills that further propelled him into raptor research, and has since performed seasonal field research positions in Florida, California, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. This will be his third season working as a field technician with TRC, and he’s excited to continue his journey with Teton Raptor Center!

Favorite Raptor: Northern Goshawk

Amanda was born and raised in the high desert of Northern California in a rural town of 3,000 people. She enjoys time spent chasing her two bird dogs Bentlee (German Shorthaired Pointer) and Finny (German Wirehaired Pointer). She is an active participant in the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Federation and in involved with HerUpland, a non-profit focused on creating space for women in the uplands. Amanda has a career focused in Healthcare and has a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from California State University – East Bay. She has spent the better part of her work history in Healthcare Operations Management and Electronic Health System Project Management. This opportunity brings the ability for her to focus more on what fills her purpose as she advocates for lead free alternatives in all the outdoor recreation spaces, but her most passionate, the bird fields. When not chasing bird dogs, Amanda can be found snuggled up with a good book or cooking for her friends and family.

Favorite Raptor: Northern Goshawk

Following a childhood in upstate New York and upon graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a dual major in economics and environmental studies, Amy quickly made her way to Wyoming to work at the CM Ranch in Dubois. Amy participated in the inaugural year of Teton Science Schools’ Professional Residency in Environmental Education program and earned a master’s degree in Forest Resources and Natural Resource Policy from Utah State University. These experiences left her with a substantive foundation for understanding the natural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a deep appreciation for the community of Jackson Hole, a commitment to sustainability and wildness, and a thirst for ongoing discovery. Amy has mixed drinks at Dornan’s Bar in Moose, guided trips in the Tetons and Wind Rivers for Exum Mountain Guides, served as Communications and Development Director for The Murie Center, explored the world of documentary filmmaking as the associate producer of Don’t Fence Me In (a production of The Equipoise Fund), headed operations for an independent investment advisory firm and experienced a season in Antarctica as a recycling specialist. Amy now feels as if she has truly landed in the role of Teton Raptor Center’s first Executive Director, serving in this leadership position since 2010. Amy lives in Victor, Idaho with her husband Forrest and three furry family members — felines Marshall and Lhakpa and canine, Tasman, a mountain-mutt.

Favorite Raptor: Osprey

Anna grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from St. Lawrence University with a B.S. in Biology. She spent her childhood exploring the bird sanctuary in the woods behind her house, which fostered her curiosity and appreciation for wildlife from a young age. At university, she conducted research in both the limnology and herpetology labs, and discovered her passion for avian conservation during her Senior year. When she wasn’t in class or in the lab, she guided trips in the Adirondack Mountains through the SLU Outing Club. After graduating, she worked as a seasonal Migratory Raptor Observer in the Bridger Mountains of Bozeman, MT and feels grateful to have contributed to a long-term migration project while working with local volunteers.

Aside from her experiences in wildlife biology, she has also worked as a Spanish writing tutor, an ophthalmic assistant, and worked at a flower farm during her summers in highschool. She enjoys being in the mountains, painting, cooking with friends, and live music!

Favorite Raptor: Golden Eagle

Bryan has been studying raptors in Jackson Hole and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for the past two decades. He completed his master’s degree from Arkansas State University studying Common Raven ecology in Jackson Hole and Red-tailed Hawks wintering in Arkansas. Bryan has continued and expanded his management-based research with dozens of projects across Wyoming and Montana, focusing on raptors and sage-grouse. His current work involves many on-going projects on spatial ecology, habitat use, bioacoustics, genetics, and conservation planning. He enjoys tinkering with engineering projects and has developed several new wildlife traps, GPS tracking transmitters, and automated recording systems. Bryan has served as the president of the Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society and co-chair of the Wyoming Golden Eagle Working Group. He has aided and worked with many researchers and projects across North America and Europe and believes that collaborations are the key to successful wildlife science and conservation. Bryan lives in Jackson with his lovely bride, Emily, and is proud father of his son, Oliver, and daughter, Alice.

Favorite Raptor: Golden Eagle and Great Gray Owl (one for day and one for night!)

Caroline grew up in Baltimore Maryland and went to college at the University of Rhode Island, graduating with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology & Conservation. From a young age, Caroline always knew that she wanted to work with animals/nature for a career. She volunteered and worked different internships at animal shelters and aquariums during her high school years. During her time at URI, she deeply explored her more specific interests by working as a research technician in an entomology lab for two years. After graduation, Caroline knew that she wanted to experience other areas of ecology and applied to work at the Glen Helen Raptor Center in Yellow Springs Ohio as an intern. It was there that she realized how much she adores birds of all kinds, but specifically raptors. During her free time, Caroline loves to spend time outside, read, hang out with her pet snake Rue, watch movies, and cook for herself and her friends.

Favorite Raptor: Barn Owl

Dr. Charles R. Preston is the Willis McDonald, IV Founding and Senior Curator Emeritus at the
Draper Natural History Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, in Cody, Wyoming. He
retired from the Center in 2018. He garnered international recognition for his “visionary” design and development of the Draper Museum, where he forged a groundbreaking partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to foster biodiversity conservation in Greater Yellowstone. He established the Draper Museum Raptor Experience employing live raptors in public educational programming, and he has been recognized as a “leading thinker” concerning conservation issues in Greater Yellowstone. Prior to his appointment at the Draper Museum in 1998, Dr. Preston was Chairman of the Department of Zoology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (1990 – 1998) and a tenured Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock (1982 – 1989). While at the Denver Museum, Preston’s research and public education initiatives contributed to the establishment of Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. He holds or has held adjunct appointments in the Haub School for Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming; Biology and Environmental
Science, University of Colorado (Boulder and Denver); Environmental Policy and Management,
Denver University, and Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. His research on various species of raptors has spanned more than four decades. Since 2009 he has directed a
long-term monitoring/research platform on Golden Eagle nesting ecology in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin along the eastern margin of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. He continues
participation in this platform through the affiliation with Teton Raptor Center.

Connor grew up in northern Vermont as a part of a dairy farming community, spending a large portion of his childhood outside and surrounded by both wildlife and domesticated farm animals. Connor’s love of wildlife and the outdoors began there and further grew when he was able to experience new environments and animals after moving to Colorado. He attended Colorado College for undergraduate school where he received a BA in History. He moved to Jackson soon after and began volunteering at TRC in raptor rehabilitation. After a year of volunteering, Connor was extremely excited to be offered the opportunity to join the TRC staff.

Favorite Raptor: Great Gray Owl and Golden Eagle

Dylan grew up in the front range of Colorado. As a kid he was always fascinated with nature, wildlife, and hiking. He holds a B.S. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Colorado State University. His love for raptors took root while volunteering at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program. Dylan’s career journey led him to various He has worked for wildlife research and management programs across the United States. Notable experiences include seasonal roles at Haleakala National Park in Hawaii, Georgia DNR, and Yellowstone National Park. In Yellowstone, he also served as a year-round bird, wolf, and cougar field technician. While wildlife research and conservation has always been a cornerstone of Dylan’s career, he has found a passion for public outreach and interpretation. Motivated by this passion, he joined Teton Raptor Center, driven by their mission to conserve and protect birds of prey through education, research, and rehabilitation. He is excited to be a part of this mission and work as one of the TRC’s new avian care technicians! In his spare time he loves hiking, birding, skiing, nature photography, and watching wildlife.

Favorite Raptor: Peregrine Falcon

Hannah was born and raised under the Big Sky in Montana and has enjoyed outdoor pursuits her whole life. She is an avid fly fisher and hunter always looking for ways to be involved, from leading women’s fly fishing groups and participating in sustainable hunting programs. Earning a bachelor’s in marketing and a master’s in resource conservation, she has a unique perspective on outreach efforts for the benefit of conservation. Her first connection to lead-free sporting came from encountering a leaded golden eagle while hunting with a family friend in southwest Montana. This experience ignited a desire to educate others in the use of non-lead alternatives not only for the benefit of wildlife and human health but for the continuation of our hunting heritage. In addition to hunting and fishing, she enjoys tending to her ever-growing indoor jungle of plants and spending as much time outside with her best pal, Cedar, a German Shepherd-chocolate lab mix.

Hilary was born and raised in Helena, MT, where early in life, she developed a strong love of nature, especially birds. She attended the University of Montana, graduating with a BS in Wildlife Biology and a minor in Spanish. After graduating, Hilary worked a variety of field jobs, including raptor monitoring on a wind farm in north central Montana, sagebrush songbird nest searching in western Wyoming, and hawk watching at a spectacular Golden Eagle migration site near Helena. In 2021, Hilary came to Jackson when she was hired by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation as the Nature Mapping Program Coordinator. When not working, Hilary can be found outside – birding, botanizing, or simply appreciating the stunning landscapes of eastern Idaho and western Wyoming.

Favorite Raptor: Golden Eagle

Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Cal Poly Humboldt. Following an Education internship at the Raptor Education Group Inc. in Wisconsin, her passion for raptor education grew, driven by the profound and meaningful interactions with the local community. It was rewarding to be able to interact with an array of individuals and ignite their enthusiasm for conservation. She feels honored and privileged to be part of the education team at TRC, where she can continue fostering enthusiasm for raptors and conservation.

Favorite Raptor: Turkey Vulture

Josh grew up in the Great Appalachian Valley of Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee where he found his passion for birds working as a field technician on a project investigating the effects of cattle grazing strategies in native warm season grass pastures on nesting songbirds. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Wildlife and Fisheries science in 2016, Josh has worked for the United States Forest Service as a ranger technician and type II Wildland Fighter on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, and as a Reservoir Operations Manager for a water supplier in western Massachusetts. In 2020, Josh’s dream of working with birds began to take form when he was accepted to the graduate program at the University of Wyoming in the department of Zoology and Physiology. His graduate research with the Teton Raptor Center will evaluate factors influencing the habitat selection and space use of migratory golden eagles wintering in Wyoming. During his spare time, Josh is all about being outdoors birding or wading the waters of the North Platte River. Josh lives in Casper, Wyoming with his wife Riley and their two pups, Pippin and Myotis.

Favorite Raptor(s): Northern Goshawk and Golden Eagle

Katherine is interested in behavioral ecology and the effects of environmental change on wildlife. She earned her Ph.D. through the University of Wyoming’s Program in Ecology. For her graduate research, she studied the mechanisms underlying variation in habitat selection, movement ecology, and demographics of Great Gray Owls in northwestern Wyoming. Specifically, she used GPS location data to quantify breeding and winter habitat requirements for this state-sensitive species. She also evaluated how snow conditions and prey availability influence Great Gray Owl winter movements and reproductive performance. She considers herself extremely lucky to have spent the past ten years researching this elusive, understudied forest raptor, and she recently authored a book on the Great Gray Owl, Phantom of the North, which is available at TRC’s gift shop! Prior to attending the University of Wyoming, Katherine worked as a field biologist at Teton Raptor Center and has conducted avian research in Wyoming for 14 years. She received a B.A. from Middlebury College, and she originally hails from North Carolina. During her free time, Katherine enjoys trail-running with her bird dogs.

Favorite Raptor: American Kestrel

Laurie grew up on a small farm in rural Michigan. After graduating high school, she had an opportunity to travel around the country performing with a musical group. Her travels led her to Sioux City, IA where she met her husband, Virgil. After a visit to Jackson Hole in 1989, it didn’t take long for them to decide to relocate there the following year to start their western adventure.
Laurie’s first employment was at the Jackson Hole Land Trust. She felt fortunate to learn about the community and to work alongside like-minded conservationists. Throughout her career, Laurie has worked with databases and in administrative operations for other non-profits in the Jackson area, including the Teton Raptor Center in its early days. Additionally, she was part of the musical entertainment for RaptorFest for nine years.

In 2013, Laurie lived in Cascade, Idaho for a brief time. Laurie attended a Master Naturalist class at Ponderosa State Park in McCall, Idaho where she spread the word about the Poo Poo Project.

While in Idaho, Laurie was introduced to the mission of the Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary in McCall. She soon became a volunteer and board member helping with the care of injured and orphaned black bear cubs, birds and several species of wild animals.

Laurie is excited to be back “home” and equally excited to be back at TRC. Her interests are music, travel and volunteering.

Favorite Raptor: Barn Owl

Linnea’s appreciation of raptors, wildlife, and love of the outdoors began with her life in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains in Southern California and family camping trips in the Sierra Nevada. Since then she has spent a majority of her life searching out adventure. Her love of wild places and wildlife brought her to Jackson in 2000 where her ongoing search for the perfect job led her to volunteer at Teton Raptor Center, which in turn led to the fantastic opportunity to join the staff at TRC. She couldn’t be happier.

Favorite Raptor: Great Gray Owl & Red Tailed Hawk

Roger Smith has spent his entire professional career in the natural sciences and environmental education. Roger started his professional life in 1977 as a field biologist researching grizzly bear demographics in northwestern Montana. He continued to study both grizzly and black bears in Alaska, Maine and Colorado before completing his secondary science degree in 1984. After teaching high school science in Montana, he moved to Jackson Hole in 1985 and joined the resident faculty at the Teton Science School (TSS). At TSS, he designed and implemented field-oriented natural science curriculum for all ages. In 1987, he joined the field staff at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), leading courses in Wyoming, Texas, Mexico and Kenya. In 1994, Roger completed his master’s degree in Wildlife Biology and Physiology from the University of Wyoming. Roger’s research has focused on raptors and ravens of Grand Teton National Park, and he has continued to pursue this work to this day. In 1994, he helped initiate and manage the Professional Residency in Environmental Education program at the Teton Science School and was on faculty there until 1999. From 1999 to 2001, Roger worked as a field research biologist with Beringia South, a nonprofit wildlife research and educational institute in Kelly, Wyoming. There, he managed all aspects of independent research, from grant and proposal writing, research, and publication in peer-reviewed professional journals. Roger began the Teton Raptor Fund in 1997 with his wife and fellow wildlife biologist Margaret Creel. Since then, his focus has been primarily on medical care and public education around raptors of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In 2002, Roger developed the Nature Center at 3 Creek Ranch, where he became their year-round Resident Naturalist.

Favorite Raptor: Red-tailed Hawk

Salene developed an appreciation and passion for wildlife at a young age growing up near Everglades National Park in southwest Florida. She began volunteering with Teton Raptor center in 2017 and quickly found a passion for avian rehabilitation, conservation, research, and medicine. Salene joined TRC staff from 2018-2019 as an avian care technician and decided to apply for veterinary school. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Oregon State University in 2023. She focused on wildlife and avian anesthesia, medicine, and orthopedic surgery. Outside of the hospital, you may find her hiking, mountain biking, or skiing with her husband, Ryan or dog, Mia.

Favorite Raptor: Turkey Vulture

With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Selena is passionate about bringing people closer to nature and creating systems to allow nonprofits to deliver their missions effectively.

A childhood in Maine spent hiking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and running from black flies instilled in Selena a love of the outdoors and a tolerance for extreme winters. She relocated to Jackson in 2005 and found the low humidity, powder skiing, proximity to incredible landscapes, and the community irresistible. In the region, she has worked as a bird bander, server, veterinary assistant, and naturalist. Before joining TRC, she spent 9 years at Teton Science Schools as field education faculty and registration director.
Her educational background includes a bachelor’s in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut, a master’s in science education from the University of Washington, and a graduate residency at Islandwood.

Selena lives in Victor, Idaho with her husband, daughter, two dogs and a cat, spending as much time on the Teton and South Fork rivers and in the mountains as possible. She loves birding, baking, gardening, and telling terrible jokes.

Favorite Raptor: Barred Owl

Step Wilson began working with raptors as a volunteer bander at the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory in 1995. After seven autumns, he moved to Colorado and worked alongside Sigrid Ueblacker at Birds of Prey Foundation and monitored raptor breeding, migration, and wintering sites throughout the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes. He has studied raptors through counting and banding efforts in Mexico, Canada, Italy, Israel, and South Africa. He has been collaborating with our research team for the past 13 years on a variety of raptor and raven projects. Step’s main interests are raptor conservation and public education.

Favorite Raptor: Red-tailed Hawk