Exciting News: Welcoming Three New DJV Advisory Board Members!

The Diversity Joint Venture for Careers in Conservation is thrilled to announce the addition of three incredibly talented and inspiring individuals to our Advisory Board! With their vast experience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the conservation sector, these new board members will help propel DJV toward achieving our ambitious equity action plans. Please join me in welcoming Rena Borkhataria , Diana Doan-Crider , and Maryam Kamran to the DJV team!

Meet Our New Members:

Rena Borkhataria (She/Her)

Founder and Executive Director, Conservation Collaborative

Rena is a trailblazer in the world of conservation training, having designed and founded the Conservation Collaborative Scholars Program (formerly the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative) in 2013. Over the past decade, she has guided over 200 scholars, with the majority now thriving in conservation careers. Rena's passion for integrating DEI into conservation stems from her own transformative experiences as a student. Her award-winning leadership, recognized by The Wildlife Society, and her contributions to diversifying wildlife science, including the groundbreaking chapter “Women of Color in Wildlife” in Women in Wildlife Science, align perfectly with DJV’s mission. We are beyond excited to have Rena’s expertise and network join our direct-to-community conservation strategy!

Diana Doan-Crider (She/Her)

President, Animo Partnership in Natural Resources

Coordinator, Native American Rangelands Partnership

Researcher & Instructor, Salish Kootenai College

Diana brings a wealth of experience working directly with Indigenous and underrepresented communities to enhance their capacity in natural resources management. Her leadership in establishing the Native American Rangelands Partnership and her work with the Indigenous Institute for Capacity Building in Natural Resources is invaluable to DJV’s mission of fostering equity through shared stewardship. Diana’s commitment to place-based learning for marginalized communities deeply resonates with DJV's focus on culturally relevant and inclusive conservation practices. We look forward to the knowledge she will share in shaping future DJV projects and mentoring the next generation of conservation leaders!

Maryam Kamran (She/Her)

Director of Inclusion and Diversity, College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) at Virginia Tech

Maryam’s role at CNRE has been instrumental in creating sustainable DEI programming, improving recruitment and retention, and mentoring underrepresented students in conservation-related fields. Her experience developing courses that enhance awareness of inclusion and diversity will be pivotal as DJV expands its outreach to young professionals. Maryam’s leadership and deep understanding of diversity in academic spaces align perfectly with DJV’s goals of reshaping the future of conservation through equity and inclusion, especially through our mentorship match programs and skills share initiatives.

What’s Next?

These three incredible leaders will play a vital role in executing DJV’s Equity Action Plans. By leveraging their collective expertise, DJV will continue to drive impactful, community-focused conservation efforts that are inclusive and accessible. They will also serve as role models and mentors for young professionals entering the field, helping to foster a pipeline of diverse talent ready to take on leadership roles in conservation.

Stay tuned! Over the coming months, we will host a series of Q&A panels and in-depth interviews with our revamped Advisory Board. You’ll have the opportunity to hear firsthand from Rena, Diana, and Maryam about their perspectives on shared stewardship, collaborative projects, and how they plan to support DJV’s mission of creating equitable pathways in conservation careers.

We are beyond excited to see what the future holds with these brilliant minds on board. Together, we will continue breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all in conservation.

#WelcomeToTheTeam #DJVAdvisoryBoard #EquityInConservation #SharedStewardship #DiversityInAction

Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to follow our journey!