Judith Scarl, Executive Director
Dr. Judith Scarl joined the AOS as executive director and CEO in July 2021. She brings years of experience developing partnerships with state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations to identify common goals and develop a unified voice for bird conservation. Most recently, she served as the U.S. Coordinator for the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) and the Bird Conservation Program Manager of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). Judith has a strong passion for and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in science and conservation, indispensable assets for the AOS and ornithology. Her extensive connections with a broad network of conservation partners, her deep understanding of the need to support students and early-career professionals, and her passion for expanding inclusivity and equity in the field of ornithology will drive key areas of program development for the society. Judith is also deeply engaged in volunteer work with teens and young adults whose lives have been affected by foster care. She loves indoor rock climbing, riding her motorcycle, sushi, and curating her Little Free Library.
Crystal Ruiz, Director of Operations & Administration
Crystal joined the AOS in March 2015 and holds a BS/BA degree in accounting and Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. Prior to the AOS, Crystal worked as an administrator at a regional-based environmental non-profit and as an international accountant in a private firm. She enjoys looking at the big picture and figuring out how to successfully roll out programs while keeping the lights on and people smiling. Photo by KayBee Photos.
Chris Mulvaney, Membership & Data Operations Manager
Chris joined the AOS as in independent contractor in 2017 and transitioned to a full-time role with the Society in January 2019. Previously, he served thirteen years with Chicago Wilderness, a regional conservation alliance of more than 200 organizations, where he helped to foster partnerships, facilitate regional biodiversity recovery strategies, and develop and monitor metrics toward collective impact.
Mark Penrose, Managing Editor
Mark originally served as managing editor for The Auk under three editors: Kimberly Smith, Spencer Sealy, and Michael Murphy. After a break, he rejoined as managing editor of the AOS journals, Ornithology (formerly The Auk) and Ornithological Applications (formerly The Condor), in 2014. Over the years, Mark has worked on everything from journal management to design and layout to typesetting. He is a Jersey boy and a long-suffering Jets fan.
Chris Anne Handel, Communications & Marketing Manager
Chris Anne joined the AOS in June of 2020. For more than 25 years, she’s worked as a communicator and marketer, developing communications plans for various organizations, including governmental agencies, nonprofits, and both private and publicly traded corporations. She has co-developed and deployed NASA-mission-based STEAM curriculum in K–12 and institutional environments across the U.S., while mentoring a new generation of female science educators and communicators. When she’s not avidly enjoying the Colorado outdoors, sustainably gardening, or practicing yoga in her free time, she’s likely working on paintings and drawings of animals.
Ramona Fletcher, Meeting Manager
Ramona joined the AOS in late 2023, and has extensive experience in meeting and event planning for associations, government vendors, and corporations. She has managed scientific meetings, educational symposia, conferences, and events, both in person and virtually. Ramona manages the AOS annual meeting and other AOS events throughout the year, and enjoys witnessing the life cycle of an event, from conception to execution. She lives with her husband in Michigan, and has a passion for travel and learning new things.
Amani Edwards, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator
Amani joined the AOS as the diversity and inclusion coordinator in April of 2024. She has served in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space for more than ten years. During this time, she has helped professionals across different sectors understand their DEI needs and create strategies to build more inclusive environments. Amani has facilitated DEI workshops, focusing on understanding and mitigating bias and discrimination. She has also worked with educators to create bias-free classrooms and develop successful and engaging curricula. She has experience in higher education, healthcare, the legal field, Fortune 500 organizations, and nonprofit organizations. Amani completed her Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy in April 2021, with a specialty in public management, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and Literature, with a language focus in Mandarin and Russian.
Mint Jang, Administrative Assistant
Mint joined the AOS part-time in August 2019 and assists staff with day-to-day operations. She hails from the Peachtree state of Georgia, loves to travel (especially for food!), and enjoys following rabbit holes of information. Her current areas of interest include sustainable living, traditional tea cultures, and fountain pens.