Chris Clarke, director

Chris Clarke is the California Desert Associate Director for the National Parks Conservation Association and previously served as environment editor at Los Angeles-based KCET, the nation’s largest independent public television station, where he was routinely wrote about the Mojave and threats to the landscape and its wild inhabitants. Before that, Chris published the award wining Earth Island Journal.

Britney Penouilh, Director

Britney Penouilh is an interdisciplinary artist whose interest in geology and natural environments has greatly influenced her work. Penouilh’s work seeks to explore such places rather than exploiting with the benefit of preserving rather than plundering. A former artist-in-residence in the Mojave National Preserve, Penouilh’s work connects landscape to ritual, tying the spiritual realm to the scientific.

Emily buchi, Director

Emily Buchi is an outdoor educator, whose love of the desert began with the exploration of the ecosystems in her home state of Utah. She is passionate about equity and justice, and traditional ecological knowledge in environmental education, and loves connecting youth with their local natural spaces. Emily is committed to protecting unique, and often misunderstood landscapes like the Mojave, and impassioning communities to steward their local lands for future generations.

Gary Spiers, Director

Gary Spiers is an Earth remote sensing scientist, amateur astronomer and photographer. Originally from Wales, he fell in love with the desert many years ago and has been a volunteer and advocate for protecting it ever since. As an amateur astronomer he has shown and taught tens of thousands of people the wonders of the night sky and has been one of the organizers of the Mojave National Preserve Star Party since its inception.

Lucas Basulto, Director

Luke was born and raised in Barstow, California at the heart of the Mojave. He attended Humboldt State University where he studied Wildlife Management with emphasis in Applied Vertebrate Ecology as well as Journalism with emphasis in Scientific Communication. Luke is a Land Steward with the Mojave Desert Land Trust in Joshua Tree, California, and cares deeply about his home, the Mojave. He focuses on public education and whatever needs to be done to preserve and protect the Mojave desert tortoise for future generations.

michael gordon, director

Michael Gordon is a professional landscape photographer (http://www.michael-gordon.com) and California native whose passion for exploring and photographing California’s deserts is exceeded only by his desire to preserve and protect them for future generations. Michael formerly served on the Board of Directors for the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association, and his 20-year service as volunteer ranger (USFS) in the San Gorgonio Wilderness earned him a President’s Gold Volunteer Award. His photographs have been instrumental in the campaigns of The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Campaign for America’s Wilderness, National Parks Conservation Association, and others.

Shaun Gonzales, Director

Shaun Gonzales is a desert activist who grew up in Victorville, California and enjoys exploring the Mojave. He has worked to promote desert conservation through his blog, social media, and photography, and worked with the Victor Elementary School District to introduce students to the Mojave National Preserve.