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Our Team & Partners
Norman Greenhawk
President & Director, The Harris Conservation Initiative
Norman has 20 years of experience in environmental science, herpetology, tropical forest ecology, and conservation. He earned his undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies with a Concentration in Chesapeake Bay Regional Studies from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and his master’s degree in environmental science from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
In 2013, he was awarded the Earthwatch Neville Shulman Award for Emerging Environmental Leaders. This award made it possible for him to work in Panama, Belize, Honduras, and Bolivia to obtain experience training in both in-situ and ex-situ conservation techniques for many groups of reptiles and amphibians- Anura, Chelonia, Serpentes, Lacertilia, and Crocodilia. He also traveled on his own accord to the Smithsonian Institute’s Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (PARC) to obtain training in the ex-situ care of amphibians.
In 2015, Norman was awarded a Fulbright Student Award, which took him to the Philippines for the first time. He enacted Project Palaka, the only first (and only) ex-situ conservation project for Philippine amphibians. Norman designed every aspect of the ex-situ setup, and the success of this early project led to Project Palaka working with Platymantis insulatus, the only species of amphibian in the Philippines that has been designated as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN. Norman has also been designated as a Fulbright Specialist until 2024, a Research Scholar at Washington College, and a 2021 National Geographic Explorer.
Dr. Nicholas Brokaw
Vice-President of Research for Belize
A native of Delaware, Dr. Nicholas Van Liew Brokaw earned his PhD in Biology at the University of Chicago. He taught at the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras,from 2001 until 2018. He now serves as Professor Emeritus at the University. Dr. Brokaw has also served at the Principal Investigator at the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program, Puerto Rico, a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University, a Senior Scientist at the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Kenyon College.
Dr. Brokaw's research focuses on discovering what factors determine the three-dimensional structure and tree species composition of tropical forest. His investigations relate structure and composition to site environment (e.g., slope, soil) and site history (disturbance), and records forest changes over the long-term. His studies in tropical forest ecology span such places as Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Ecuador.
Dr. Brokaw has authored or co-authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, and has co-authored or edited five academic books. He has received 31 grants over the course of his career, including but not limited to funding from the National Sciences Foundation, the Smithsonian, the National Geographic Society, and the Pew Charitable Trust.
Angela Whitley
Vice-President of Research for Puerto Rico
Angela is currently on track to finish her PhD in Environmental Sciences from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. Her specialty is Marine Biology. Her thesis is focused on the current state of coral reefs adjacent to important urban infrastructures around the island, and understanding the long-term persistence of their ability to buffer wave action and the impacts of extreme events (e.g. hurricanes, climate change). The information provided by Angela’s research will be an important decision-making tool for the projection of possible future options to design cost-effective and functional restoration projects in urban shallow fringing coral reefs under diverse environmental conditions.
Angela is also a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor, and completed her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University before working at the Melbourne Aquarium in Australia, and the Dubai
Aquarium and Underwater Zoo in the UAE.
When not in the classroom or diving the reefs of Puerto Rico to collect data, Angela can be found in the gym, training for her next fight; in addition to being a scientist and conservationist, Angela is a world-champion Muay Thai fighter, under the nickname Angela “Riptide” Whitley.
Puerto Rico
Thrity J. Vakil
Director, Tropic Ventures Research and Education Foundation
Thrity (“3t”) Jal Vakil, as the President of Tropic Ventures Research and Education Foundation, is integral to the operation of Las Casas de la Selva, a significant forty-year-old 404-hectare sustainable forestry initiative in Patillas, Puerto Rico.
For over two decades, 3t has specialized in tree-growing, identification, selective harvesting, milling, and wood-drying. In 2015, she co-founded Puerto Rico Hardwoods, which played a pioneering role after Hurricane Maria in 2017 to salvage valuable fallen trees, and advocates for sustainable management of forests.
3t has successfully led sixty Earthwatch research teams, contributing significantly to the observation, measurement, monitoring, and planting of hundreds of trees.
Additionally, 3t is a Director of the Institute of Ecotechnics since 2007, with hands- on experience in ecology, event management, arts, expeditions, and theater. Notably, in the mid-1990s, she served as Assistant to the Expedition Chief on the RV Heraclitus, engaging in significant ocean diving-expeditions, and coral reef research for three years.
Most recently, 3t collaborates with Botanic Gardens Conservation International, and Caribbean & Central American Botanic Gardens Network focusing on the conservation of rare and endangered endemic Puerto Rican species, demonstrating her commitment to global environmental conservation and sustainability efforts. This work complements her role as an accomplished artist, where she merges her scientific knowledge with creative expression. 3t is also a Fellow of the Linnean Society and the World Academy of Art & Science.
Dr. Rita I. Cáceres-Charneco
Professor, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey
Dr. Caceres is an adjunct professor at the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey, where she focuses on providing the skills, experiences and opportunities necessary for undergraduate students to pursue careers in STEM. Her PhD dissertation focused on the ecology and conservation of the Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne lemur), the only endemic toad of Puerto Rico. She now serves as a volunteer consultant to other conservationists working to protect this unique endemic species. In addition to partnering with the HCI, her current research current includes the characterization of the fauna present at the Bosque Pterocarpus, Humacao. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Ivelisse Irizarry from Universidad Interamericana –Metro Campus, and provides students an opportunity to gain experience in field sampling and species identification.
Japan
Coming Soon!
We’re in the process of finalizing our Memorandums of Understanding with our partners in Japan. Once those are finalized, we will list our conservation partners.
Eastern Shore of Maryland/Delmarva
Coming Soon!
We’re in discussion with potential partners on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Once these partnerships are confirmed and finalized, we will list our conservation partners.
What about... you?
We're growing!
The Harris Conservation Initiative is looking for additional members of our Board of Directors, as well as additional conservation partners. If you think you or someone you know would be interested, contact us!