Francisco Santiago-Ávila
Clerk of the BoardBiography
Fran researches and practices the application of nature ethics to our mixed-community of people, animals and nature, with a focus on the promotion of worldviews rooted in non-anthropocentrism, an ethic of care, and justice.
His quantitative research has focused on the evaluation of the impact of policies and interventions to both conserve and prevent conflicts with large carnivores, specifically with endangered wolves in the US (gray, Mexican, red). His qualitative research interest and advocacy work focus on the promotion of ethical deliberation to equitably consider animal claims within the policy process, and the exploration of worldviews that promote the flourishing of our entire community of life.
Fran is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras (BA, Political Science and Economics), Duke University (MPP/MEM) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (PhD, Environment & Resources). He is the Big River Connectivity Science and Conservation Manager for Project Coyote and The Rewilding Institute, where he promotes the claims and protection of wild carnivores against killing and harm, and a founding member of PAN Works. Prior to that, he was an Associate Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Carnivore Coexistence Lab.