Newport Bay Conservancy staff works alongside our Board of Directors and our partners at the Bay. Contact us if you want to collaborate.
Heather Cieslak – Operations Director
heather.cieslak@newportbay.org
Heather Cieslak grew up in Illinois and moved to California after graduating from Northern Illinois University with a BA in Marketing. Previously, Heather was the Finance and Operations Manager with Amigos de los Rios, a nonprofit committed to protecting and restoring open space in urban environments, specifically in East LA County. Prior to that, Heather spent a number of years as Associate Director with National Assistance League, responsible for marketing, fundraising and administration to support their 125 chapters nationwide. Also while at NAL, she pursued her MPA in Nonprofit Organizational Management from California State University Northridge. As our Operations Director since 2013, Heather ensures programs and activities are part of an overall annual plan and supporting budget, that they are well-managed, and that we are actively marketing and communicating our mission and activities to our community.
Hilary Cunningham – Education Manager
hilary.cunningham@newportbay.org
Hilary Cunningham spent many childhood afternoons sitting in her parents’ avocado tree. Her love of nature was later reinforced on family vacations to botanical gardens and on school trips to AstroCamp, Catalina Island, and Olympic National Park. Inspired by these experiences and by her high school biology teacher, she went on to study Plant Biology at UC Irvine. But she was always fascinated by many other subjects too and ended up staying at UCI for a decade to obtain a B.S. in Plant Biology, a B.F.A. in Dance Performance, a B.A. in Anthropology, a minor in Linguistics, and an M.A. in Cognitive Science. After gaining experience managing volunteers and staff at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, her desire to get back into nature brought her to Newport Bay Conservancy in 2017. Originally brought on to oversee the volunteer program, her role has continued to expand, becoming Education Manager in 2024. Hilary is excited to continue her work training our invaluable volunteers, integrating them into our programs, and managing educational staff and programming to preserve, protect, and educate the public about the Upper Newport Bay.
Thomas Shields – Restoration Manager
thomas.shields@newportbay.org
Thomas Shields is a passionate ecologist born and raised in Orange County. Thomas spent much of his youth outdoors with his local Boyscout Troop, fostering his love of the environment and the local flora and fauna of Southern California. While attending UC San Diego, Thomas found new interest in the ocean and began to study marine plankton and the impact of poaching on marine protected areas. After graduating with his B.S. in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, Thomas began working as an environmental consultant and biology tutor. Eventually, he sought out higher education and enrolled in UC Irvine’s Master’s in Conservation and Restoration Science. As a graduate student, Thomas worked as a lab assistant at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project and as a TA for the Marine Conservation course. During his program, Thomas began volunteering with Project Grow; through this program, he was introduced to the back bay and became enamored with its biodiversity. Now, Thomas gets to bring his love of the Newport Bay and devotion to restoration as Restoration Manager.
Matt Marowitz – Habitat Restoration Coordinator
matt.marowitz@newportbay.org
Growing up in Orange County, Matt spent summers either at the beach or up in the mountains. The dynamic and active lifestyle of Matt’s youth built an appreciation of the natural world that they carried forward into adulthood. When it came time for Matt to go off to college, they eventually settled on studying anthropology and biology at San Francisco State University. After receiving a B.A. in Anthropology in San Francisco, they came back to Orange County for a Certificate in Ecological Restoration at Saddleback College. Since spending time at Saddleback College, Matt has worked in the natural resources departments of both California State Parks and the City of Dana Point, also working as a Land Steward for the Center for Natural Lands Management. Matt is currently finishing up their M.S. in Environmental Studies at Cal State University, Fullerton, where they have furthered their knowledge of the biological sciences and developed their skills in GIS and remote sensing. Now Matt is bringing their expertise and passion for the environment to the Upper Newport Bay with hopes of fostering a community of people excited about restoring native habitats.
David Banuelas – Habitat Restoration Technician II
david.banuelas@newportbay.org
Born and raised in Southern California, David formed a close connection with the outdoors at an early age, influencing him to pursue environmental science at Whittier College. After receiving his BA, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management conducting large-scale restoration projects. While pursuing his master’s degree in Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona, David was the inaugural Farm to School Coordinator for the Upland Unified School District. David received his PhD in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at UC Irvine. He is poised to translate his research into novel management strategies to control invasive plants species in the Upper Newport Bay and beyond.
Randall English – Habitat Restoration Technician II
randall.english@newportbay.org
Randall originally came to the bay via corporate volunteering and found a place where his love of the environment and love of kayaking presented a rewarding opportunity to give back to society. His focus shifted to restoration volunteering when kayaking tours were shut down for a spell. In 2021 he enrolled in Saddleback College’s Ecological Restoration certificate program to become more self-reliant and effective in the field. Halfway through the program Randall decided to change careers and become a professional restorationist. Randall previously worked for over thirty years in information technology as a programmer, business systems analyst and technical project manager supporting manufacturing and distribution processes.
Mariah Sabo – Education Specialist
mariah.sabo@newportbay.org
Mariah’s innate love of nature and conservation stems from her childhood in local Silverado Canyon. While she spent most of her time playing in creeks and the nearby forest, she was ultimately drawn to marine life. At a 5th grade outdoor camp in Catalina Island, she realized her dream of becoming a marine biologist. She fulfilled this dream when she graduated from Cal State University, Fullerton with a degree in Biological Science, Marine Biology Concentration, BS. Following graduation, Mariah began her career as a marine naturalist interpreter for the City of Newport Beach. She first became involved with Newport Bay Conservancy when she became an Outdoor Activity Leader for the FiiN program in September 2022. Her passion for environmental education landed her a permanent position as the education specialist at NBC in December 2022. She looks forward to using the bay’s natural resources to educate all who are willing to learn.
Alex Sasikumar – Outdoor Activity Leader
alex.sasikumar@newportbay.org
Alex (she/her) first connected with nature on her 5th-grade end-of-year camping trip to Point Reyes in Northern California. Even in urban San Francisco, she found ways to explore the little pockets of nature all around her: Land’s End Trail in San Francisco and the American River Confluence among some of her favorites. Her curiosity eventually took her beach camping in Kona, Periyar Nature Reserve and the backwaters in India, and rock climbing limestone cliffs in Thailand. She’s an educator by trade and when she’s not substitute teaching for SAUSD or romping around the back bay with her dog Billie, she’s cozy at home collaging or repurposing curbside finds. She hopes to take everything she learns about environmentalism and apply it to the classroom in hopes of inspiring the next wave of nature lovers.
Isabelle Beltran – Outdoor Activity Leader
isabelle.beltran@newportbay.org
Isabelle first remembers learning about nature while watching nature documentaries with her grandpa. As she grew up she learned more about nature firsthand by going on hikes and bike rides in local parks and trails. With her love of science and nature, she decided to major in Biology at UC Irvine eventually earning her bachelor’s degree. During her senior year at UCI she was lucky enough to join the College Corps program allowing students to volunteer for local organizations. This is when she first got involved with Newport Bay Conservancy and she began doing outreach events such as Community Day at Back Bay Science Center. Once she graduated she began working in the FiiN program as an activity leader. Since then she has continued to work in outreach and education at Newport Bay Conservancy.
Damian Pizano – Outdoor Activity Leader
damian.pizano@newportbay.org
Born and raised in Southern California, Damian is a passionate Outdoor Activity Leader dedicated to empowering students through adventure and exploration. Growing up in LA County, Damian remembers the monotony of the suburban environment around him and as such, believes it is important to build a connection with nature. In the last year of his undergraduate career at UCI, Damian got involved with the FiiN program and fell in love with the bay, from the land around it to the community that preserves it. Working with Newport Bay Conservancy, Damian leads members of the community through hands-on activities and planned tours to educate the community and grow its appreciation for the outdoors.
Kaysen Pajarillo – Outdoor Activity Leader, Restoration
kaysen.pajarillo@newportbay.org
Kaysen, a.k.a Mulefat, developed a love for nature at an early age, inspired by stories like The Lorax and her adventurous Southern California upbringing! These formative experiences instilled a deep care for the environment. Mulefat obtained a degree in Environmental Science and Policy from UCI, achieving her goal of becoming someone who “speaks for the trees.” Currently, Kaysen manages our native plant nursery, collaborates with our restoration team, and educates the community about the Back Bay’s critical role in our ecosystem through programs like FiiN. Kaysen is dedicated to connecting people with nature and values the vital work of the Newport Bay Conservancy.
Suhanee Patel – Restoration Intern
suhanee.patel@newportbay.org
Suhanee first fell in love with nature during her childhood trips to India. The dense forests, rocky mountains, and the blooming pink lotus sparked her passion in preserving and protecting the environment. With an eagerness to learn, she enters her senior year at UC Irvine pursuing Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. At UCI, she takes part in volunteer work at the Ecological Preserve, doing field research with the Center of Environmental Biology, and enjoys taking courses like Environmental Ethics, Ecology, and Conservation Biology. She hopes to enter the field of conservation biology with the hopes of becoming a nurse for Mother Earth. Suhanee is excited to expand her knowledge and gain valuable skills dedicated to advocacy, education, research, and restoration at Newport Bay Conservancy.
Joshua Bravo – Restoration Intern
joshua.bravo@newportbay.org
Joshua Bravo was raised in the high desert, where his passion for nature and wildlife began at a young age. From caring for animals at a horse ranch and zoo to conducting hands-on ecological research, he has continually sought opportunities to work outdoors and with wildlife.He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the UC Irvine, where he is now pursuing his Master’s degree in the same field. At UCI, Joshua’s research explores life-history transitions in frogs and snakes, focusing on how neuromodulators and hormones influence behavior. Currently serving as a Restoration Intern, Joshua is excited to put his knowledge and skills to good use in protecting and preserving the Back Bay. He is passionate about conservation and committed to protecting our environment through both scientific research and hands-on restoration work.
