Welcome New Executive Director Melissa Fratello

We are so excited to announce that Melissa Fratello will serve as Tucson Audubon's next Executive Director. 

Melissa comes to Tucson Audubon Society with a strong connection to conservation work in southern Arizona. She most recently served as a program director and interim executive director of Borderland Restoration Network. Her career has also included senior grant writing experience with the Center for Biological Diversity, and being the executive director of Buffalo Audubon Society. Her nonprofit career spans nearly two decades of protecting the environment, building community and serving people and wildlife.

As Executive Director, Melissa will be the foremost ambassador for Tucson Audubon’s exceptional mission to “inspire people to enjoy and protect birds through recreation, education, conservation, and restoration of the environment upon which we all depend.”

Melissa states, “I feel incredibly lucky to live in and work toward the protection of Southeastern Arizona's stunning Sky Island region—one of the most biodiverse places on the planet—and a place people flock to from around the globe, delighting in birds that we might overlook as commonplace.

“I consider birds a gateway for people to celebrate, understand, and reconnect to nature, wherever they may be, and regardless of whether or not they consider themselves birders. Protecting birds and their habitats has the multiplier effect of protecting everything else that shares space with them, including us.

“Building on Tucson Audubon's incredible work and past leadership, I seek to cultivate a space where a sense of belonging in birding, community science, and advocacy can be felt by people of all abilities and backgrounds; where historically marginalized communities will be meaningfully engaged. Working with our deeply talented and dedicated team and network of partners, I strive to lead Tucson Audubon into a new chapter as a regional leader in conservation practice, advocacy, and education.”

Tucson Audubon Board Member Kathy Jacobs adds, "Melissa is the perfect choice for Executive Director of Tucson Audubon at a critical time in our organization's history. She is an experienced manager and fundraiser, a committed birder, and an incredibly nice person." Kathy was the chairperson of the Tucson Audubon Society Executive Director Search Committee.

We look forward to Melissa joining Tucson Audubon staff July 2023!