Our dedicated staff of eight employees carries out the mission of San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy to protect and enhance the reserve.
The Conservancy's staff expertise combines advanced degrees in natural sciences and environmental studies with outdoor education and nonprofit program management. The staff carries out the Conservancy's day-to-day operations and scientific functions.
Doug Gibson, Executive Director / Principal Scientist
x 707, doug [at] sanelijo [dot] org
Doug Gibson, a wetlands ecologist, completed the first experimental phase of the inlet opening at San Elijo Lagoon in the mid 1990s. At that time, the lagoon’s water quality was so poor that few fishes and invertebrates could survive. Proposed developments adjacent to the lagoon further threatened the vitality of one of San Diego’s largest coastal wetlands.
In 1996, Doug Gibson was hired as executive director and principal scientist with San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. Securing funding for an endowment, and building member and donor support to carry on the mission of the Conservancy became key priorities.
Gibson blends his extensive knowledge of Southern California coastal wetlands policy with scientific literacy, and fundraising outreach experience to his role as executive director and principal scientist.
He came to San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, where he directed field efforts for the Navy Homeporting Sand Replenishment Project. Prior to the Conservancy, his consulting firm, Gibson Monitoring, coordinated scientific monitoring for various agencies and nonprofit organizations. Spanning 14 years, Gibson participated in the planning of large restoration projects in seven north San Diego County watersheds, including Buena Vista Lagoon, San Dieguito Lagoon, San Elijo Lagoon, and Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit. Read more about Doug Gibson.
Barry Lindgren, Associate Director
x 704, barry [at] sanelijo [dot] org
Barry Lindgren was introduced to San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy as a volunteer in 2003. Today, he serves as the Conservancy’s Science Director and Water Quality Specialist, overseeing stream flow gauges in the watershed and conducting water quality measurements in the lagoon.
Barry is familiar with all the North County watersheds having been the Conservancy’s liaison with the Carlsbad Watershed Network’s Invasive Species Program. He is also the past president of San Diego Stream Team. Barry is co-founder of a local scientific instrument company, and brings more than 25 years experience in marketing and management. He has a B.A. in Physics from UC San Diego and a certificate in California Water Management and Ecosystem Restoration from UC Berkeley.
Elaine Dodge, Development Director
x 708, elaine [at] sanelijo [dot] org
 Elaine has more than 20 years experience in nonprofit fundraising and management. Before joining the Conservancy in 2005, she served as executive director of Solana Beach Foundation for Learning. Elaine was a founding board member and past executive director of S.T.O.P. (Safe Tables Our Priority), a national consumer advocacy organization.
Prior to moving to California, Elaine worked in Washington, D.C. as the food safety program director for Government Accountability Project. She practiced law for several public interest law firms, working on cases ranging from environmental litigation to whistleblower protection.
Elaine received a B.A. from UC Berkeley, and J.D. from McGeorge School of Law. She lives a hop, skip, and a jump from San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and enjoys northern “migrations” to her home on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Tara Fuad, Education Director
x 701, tara [at] sanelijo [dot] org
Tara develops scientific curriculum-based environmental education programs that meet California Academic Content standards for schools. She is also responsible for public programs, and for recruiting and training docents.
Tara began her career in the environmental field as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1980s, where she spent three years working on reforestation projects in Niger, West Africa. Upon returning to the states, Tara settled in Washington, D.C. where she was involved in environmental research and education while working for Ecological Society of America, National Park Service, and Audubon Naturalist Society.
After moving to San Diego in 2003, Tara served as a docent for the Conservancy, and also worked for Solana Center for Environmental Innovation as Program Manager for school recycling. Tara has a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College and an M.S. in Biology from George Mason University, with an emphasis on nutrient cycling in Virginia wetland soils.
David Varner, Science Director
x 710, david [at] sanelijo [dot] org
David Varner joined the Conservancy in 2010 to manage the Invasive Vegetation Control Program for San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit. Since that time, David has taken on the role of Science Director at the Conservancy. He oversees all scientific inquiry in the organization and oversees the Habitat Management Program.
David received a B.S. from Montana State University and worked as a seasonal field biologist before returning to school to study coastal stream restoration at Humboldt State University. He went from there to Boise, Idaho where he worked in a variety of freshwater habitats in the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest. During this time, David also led charitable natural resource conservation projects in South Asia, Mexico, and the American West. He moved to Southern California in 2008.
David is an active member of California Native Plant Society, California Invasive Plant Council, and California Society for Ecological Restoration. An avid recreationist, David enjoys hiking, mountain and road biking, surfing, and kayaking.
Joel Kramer, Associate Biologist
x 709, joel [at] sanelijo [dot] org
 Joel Kramer joined the Conservancy in 2010 to work on the invasive species removal program and to monitor stream health and water quality in the lagoon and its tributaries. He returns to work where he once played as a child growing up near this lagoon.
Joel attended Torrey Pines High School, where he wrote for the newspaper on topics ranging from the Miramar Landfill, to migrant worker conditions, and water use. He graduated from University of Washington with a B.S. in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. When out of the stream, Joel spends time with his family and enjoys drumming Latin jazz, surfing, and learning indigenous languages.
Tim Stillinger, Associate Biologist
x 705, tim [at] sanelijo [dot] org
 Tim Stillinger joined the Conservancy as an intern in the summer of 2011 to conduct weekly water quality monitoring of the lagoon and to perform annual monitoring of San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s conservation easements and fee-title properties.
As Associate Biologist, Tim is now involved in several conservation projects. He is re-designing the Land Stewardship Program, developing and implementing a coastal monitoring program, and conducting GIS database management and field mapping for the Invasive Species Program.
Tim holds a B.S. in Molecular Environmental Biology from UC Berkeley and is applying for programs to begin graduate study in Fall 2012. Prior to joining the Conservancy, Tim spent a year exploring the backcountry of the south island of New Zealand. In his free time, Tim enjoys surfing, trad climbing, ski mountaineering, mountain biking and brewing craft beer.
Debby Strauss, Program Associate
x 706, debby [at] sanelijo [dot] org
Debby joined the Conservancy in 2007, inspired by an ecology class at Mira Costa College that she took from SELC Board President Denise Stillinger. Debby supports the various Conservancy programs with day-to-day operations in the areas of development, education, outreach, and general administration. Her primary responsibilities include maintaining the membership database, acknowledging contributions, grant writing for education and outreach programs, and editing the Lagoon Tidings newsletter.
Prior to joining SELC, Debby had a lengthy career in human resources, working for both corporations and nonprofits. For many years, she has volunteered with numerous North County nonprofit organizations. Debby has a B.A. in English from UC Santa Barbara. She and her husband, Barry, have lived in Encinitas for the past 25 years and have two sons.
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