2008-06-25T16:19:00.000-07:00

Selected Employment

Curriculum Writer: State Education and Environment Roundtable, Poway, CA. Create integrated units aligned with State Standards in accordance with the CA State EEI initiative.

International Trainer & Curriculum Development Specialist: Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, NY Conducted workshops, trained educators, and facilitated the design of education programs in English, Spanish and French. Trained, managed and mentored educators in Uganda, Madagascar, Gabon, Botswana, Congo People’s Republic and South Africa. Developed and presented communications capacity-building programs for WCS staff and conservationists from around the globe.

Program Manager: Geography Action!: National Geographic Society, Washington, DC Mentored teachers to conduct geography-themed action projects throughout North America. Worked within the society and with partner organizations to foster cooperation, improve effectiveness and ensure broad visibility for the program. Led ‘Sustainable Seas’ expedition to the Georgia Sea Islands to foster marine conservation.

Associate Education Director: California Institute for Biodiversity, Moraga, CA Trained hundreds of teachers throughout California to use inquiry-based methods to explore local biodiversity with students in a wide variety of contexts. Mentored a team of writers and acted as primary author and chief activity editor for a curriculum focused on California biodiversity. Wrote scripts, procured and edited images, and assisted in the production of a series of CD-ROMs focusing on California biodiversity.

Environmental Education Intern: World Wildlife Fund, Washington DC Facilitated field testing, wrote and edited activities and assisted in the design and implementation of Windows on the Wild, an curriculum focusing on global biodiversity conservation.

Education Director: Chaa Creek Natural History Centre, Belize, Central America Designed a curriculum focusing on the natural and cultural history of western Belize. Produced displays, brochures, logo, letterhead and press releases. Supervised and mentored staff in the creation of thematic hikes and slide presentations to highlight local natural and cultural diversity. Managed butterfly breeding operation and export business. Directed community outreach programs.

Naturalist: Merced County Outdoor School, Redwood National Park, Hayward Shoreline, Tilden Regional Park; Fish Camp, Crescent City, Hayward and Berkeley, CA Conducted field programs focusing on California natural and cultural history in Sierra National Forest and Yosemite National Park for 4^th – 6^th grade students attending Merced County schools. Outlined curriculum guidelines and created interpretive programs for Redwood National Park. Conducted outreach programs in communities surrounding the park. Produced a butterfly guide still in publication and distributed throughout the East Bay Regional Park District, the nation’s largest regional park system. Supervised the Tilde Park Junior Rangers, a program for youth ages 9-17. Conceived of and conducted more than 50 different interpretive programs focusing on natural and cultural themes.

Writer, The Berkeley Guides: Central America, México; Berkeley, CA and Fodor’s South America, New York, NY Wrote engaging informative and culturally sensitive text for Panamá (42 book pages), Oaxaca (25 book pages), Chiapas and Tabasco (45 book pages), Guatemala (90 book pages), and Venezuela (50 book pages) chapters on a strict deadline. Conducted extensive pre-trip research and traveled on a limited budget, condensing reviews, interviews and personal experiences into concise, easy-to-read passages.

Chapter Director and Expedition Leader: Global Routes and Amigos De Las Americas, Berkeley, CA Worked with youth leaders to mentor their peers in conducting self-generated action projects which included habitat restoration, social work and other community service. Conducted cross-cultural training in preparation for sending students to work in Latin America. Led a group of 25 high-school students to Costa Rica, where they constructed a town hall for the rural community of San Luis Ceibo Arriba.

Education

6/99 – 5/03 M.A. Geography San Francisco State University (Highest Honors)

8/87 – 6/92 B.S. Entomology UC Berkeley

B.A. Anthropology UC Berkeley (Honors)

Volunteer Experience

Peace Corps: Fresh Water Aquaculutre, Burundi and Agroforestry / Environmental Education, Senegal Designed and presented educational and community development programs to local communities in French and Kirundi.

Heath and Sanitation Volunteer, Amigos De Las Americas, Costa Rica Raised funds for and helped implement a community development project in Costa Rica. Supervised construction of wells and latrines. Designed and presented workshops on first aid, oral rehydration and dental hygiene in Spanish.

Travel

More than 30 countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Recent trips include Zambia, Uganda, France, Borneo, Baja California Sur, Japan, Madagascar.

Languages

Spanish, French, Japanese, American Sign Language (ASL)

Computer Skills

Multimedia / Graphic Design / Computer Cartography: ArcView GIS, Director, Flash, Freehand, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, Sound Edit.

Desktop Publishing: Excel, MS Word, Pagemaker, Powerpoint, Quark.

Ian Signer

Selected Employment