Friday, November 12th
12-1pm via Zoom
Register here
The National Audubon Society is working to protect and restore habitat across the Mississippi flyway through natural climate solutions, natural infrastructure projects, and climate policies to reverse the declines in bird populations and to protect communities from the impacts of a changing climate. With the Mississippi river as the backdrop and the Delta region serving as a microcosm of the work happening across the flyway and the nation, O’Neal will provide a bird’s-eye view of how this work contributes to a network of resilience, with impacts for both people and birds. O’Neal will explore how actions in the Great Lakes literally trickle down to impact the coasts and how building coastal resilience through restoration (and construction!) of wetlands, living shorelines, and barrier islands, serve as the first line of defense for coastal communities facing stronger, more frequent storms and sea-level rise.
Bio: An alum of Indiana University’s graduate program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (’10), O’Neal has a decade of experience leading and steering equitable and inclusive conservation strategies, collaborations, and business practices for non-profit conservation, education, and research organizations. Currently acting as Vice President with the National Audubon Society and Executive Director of Audubon Delta, O’Neal is building Audubon’s new regional office across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi to advance durable conservation and policy solutions with impact across the Mississippi flyway. O’Neal holds a BA in environmental studies from Washington University and a PhD in ecology from IU. Prior to joining the National Audubon Society, O’Neal served as the Executive Director of the Huyck Preserve and Biological Research Station before joining The Nature Conservancy in the Office of the Chief Scientist as the Director of Strategic Initiatives.
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