The PUP team extends a warm welcome to two incoming professionals: Board of Directors Member Stephen Awoyemi and Advisor Jay McGaffigan.

Stephen Awoyemi is a final year PhD candidate (as of October 2021) at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, Central European University (CEU), Vienna, Austria. His doctoral research focuses on how sociological theory can help explain and solve the conservation problem of trade in vulture parts for belief-based use in Nigeria. He holds a master’s degree in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge and currently serves as the vice chair of the University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership Alumni Network Council. His research interests broadly include conservation social science, conservation policy, and religion and conservation.

Before starting his PhD program, Stephen worked with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the foremost conservation organization in Nigeria, as Conservation Policy and Campaign Officer/Head of Abuja Office and has been a longtime volunteer with the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB). He served as President of two groups (Africa Section and Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group) concurrently, within the SCB, from 2015-2017. In September 2020, Stephen was awarded the CEU Presidential Scholar Award for academic excellence and leadership proficiency. 

Jay is a software architect working in the medical device and information space. He enjoys technology, cooking and hiking.

 

PUP looks forward to working with both Stephen and Jay to protect and manage natural and cultural heritage around the world.

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Olivia Parrott

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