Kristen Lear

Kristen Lear, PhD, serves as the Agave Restoration Program Manager at Bat Conservation International since July 2020, where responsibilities include leading an initiative focused on ecosystem restoration in the U.S. Southwest and Mexico. Concurrently, Kristen holds the title of National Geographic Explorer and is a founding member of the Nivalis Conservation Network. Prior experiences include serving as an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador to promote STEM careers among middle-school girls, leading bat conservation initiatives at the University of Georgia, and conducting research on bat foraging and conservation during doctoral studies. Kristen's academic background features a PhD in Integrative Conservation from The University of Georgia and a Bachelor's degree in Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Their research interests encompass the conservation of bats in agricultural landscapes and collaborative conservation efforts.