Press release

The University of California, Santa Barbara and the UCSB Natural Reserve system are pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Carol Blanchette as the new Director of the Valentine Eastern Sierra Reserve, effective April 18, 2016, following a nationwide search.

Dr. Carol Blanchette

Dr. Blanchette received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Oregon State University.

She has over 20 years of experience coordinating and implementing field-based ecological research programs.

Dr. Blanchette is currently an Associate Research Biologist at the Marine Science Institute at UCSB, where she leads numerous high profile projects that span disciplines from community ecology and ecological informatics, to science education, citizen science and science communication.

Additionally, Dr. Blanchette has extensive experience in administration, strategic planning, fundraising, resource management, and K-12 science education.

Dr. Blanchette, her husband Steve Morando, and their daughter Neko are serious eastern Sierra enthusiasts who own a home in Swall Meadows that was lost in the February, 2015 Round fire.

Please join us in welcoming them. Dr. Blanchette succeeds Dan Dawson who will retire from the Directorship on July 1, 2016, after 38 years of service to the University of California.