Our People

Celedonia Alvarado

TREE PLANTING AND PROPAGATION SUPERVISOR, Colorado River Delta

Celia has been part of the Sonoran Institute since 2009 and is the Supervisor of Tree Planting and Production in the Colorado River Delta program. Her main responsibilities are the collection and production of native riparian species, as well as the planting, irrigation, and maintenance of restoration sites. She is originally from Río Verde, San Luis Potosí, where she grew up surrounded by the nature that she cares for and appreciates so much. She is a talented birdwatcher and founding member of the group “Hang Gliders.” Her favorite birds are hawks, which she observed as a child in her homeland. Celia dreams of seeing the Colorado River again with water, birds, native trees and harmony between humans and their environment. 

Raúl Belmont

Hydrology Technician, Colorado River Delta

Raúl is a geographer who graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He specialized in cartography, GIS management, satellite images and GPS. He has developed in different fields of work, so he considers himself a “multidisciplinary geographer.” For 5 years, he performed geospatial work in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food in the states of Veracruz and Baja California. His taste for cycling and American football has taught him that teamwork is fundamental to achieving goals, without neglecting individual abilities. 

Felipe Carmona

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

Felipe joined the Sonoran Institute in mid-2021 and serves as a field assistant in the Colorado River Delta program, where he supports restoration work with the care and propagation of native riparian species, maintaining irrigation systems, maintenance and support for ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. Today he says he enjoys his work and companionship during his current work

Iliana De Jesus Lozano

Community Involvement Coordinator, Colorado River Delta

Iliana is the Mexicali Community Involvement Coordinator at Sonoran Institute, Baja California, where she enjoys building bridges with people. She’s a Sociologist from Puebla, MX with a master’s degree in socioenvironmental Studies from FLACSO Ecuador. Her jobs have been related to multiple fields, mainly focused on political ecology, ecofeminism, gender, socioenvironmental conflicts, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ rights. Through her work she has learned that we can change the world with our actions, not just words. Iliana is a cat lover who enjoys nature, reading and wandering during her free time. She’s a passionate reader, focused right now on Latin American horror and Science Fiction written by women.

Sara Dennis Pacheco

Monitoring Technician, Colorado River Delta

Sara was born in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, where she grew up in nature as part of her cultural heritage and family’s frequent trips outside the city. As such, she became interested in the relationship between nature and society, leading her to her degree in biology where she collaborated on several interdisciplinary projects. This gave her the opportunity to visit various places and ecosystems in Mexico, and work hands on with different work groups and communities. She currently works at the Sonoran Institute as a Monitoring Technician, which gives her satisfaction and purpose. In her free time, she loves reading, doing outdoor activities, hanging out with friends, getting to know new places, and walking with her dog Lola.

William Dueñas

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

William Dueñas has been a field assistant since 2019 working towards wetland reforestation and monitoring the area. William is proactive in the activities he performs, aids both in the nursery and monitors the fish hatchery, water quality probes and zooplankton populations. William is an enthusiast in auto mechanics and enjoys fishing in the river and open sea. 

Cesar Enrique Felix Anaya

Environmental Education Coordinator, Colorado River Delta

Cesar Enrique Felix Anaya is the Environmental Education Coordinator at Sonoran Institute Mexico. Since high school, his passion for education was awakened when he was a catechism teacher, leading him to a degree in Education Sciences at ITSON in Cd. Obregón, Sonora, Mexico. In addition, he has always been very curious about nature and how climate change will affect nature, and he wants to do his part to help solve this problem. Cesar has a Master of Science in Ecosystem Management in Arid Zones at UABC, where he was an instructor inclusive science education group “Serendipia,” a program on climate change taught elementary schools in and around Ensenada, Baja California. While working with Serendipia’s, his master’s project focused on training teachers about the effects of climate change in arid-coastal zones, which was implemented in the last quarter of 2022 in Ensenada. Since then, his interest in environmental education has only grown and he looks forward to making positive impacts to our ecosystems and their communities at Sonoran Institute.

Sandra Escareño

Administrative Assistant

Sandra has a degree in marketing from the University Autonomy of Baja California UABC. Her piror work experience includes assistant director at Hotel Araiza and as an administrative assistant at Sol del Niño. Sandra enjoys going on hikes with her dog “Benito”, watching movies, sushi, listening to music, and spending time with her family.

Edgar Flores Alvarado

Nursery Security, Colorado River Delta

Edgar Flores serves as a guard at the Sonoran Institute. His responsibilities consist of safeguarding the area and the restoration sites where machinery, tools, and part of the equipment used for the work of the organization are located.

Cristal Galindo Jimenez

FIELD SUPERVISOR, Colorado River Delta

Cristal joined the Sonoran Institute in 2014 doing restoration work in Laguna Grande, since the beginning of the Colorado River Delta program in Mexico. Today she works as Field Supervisor and is responsible for coordinating restoration activities such as clearing, collection and production of native riparian species, planting, irrigation, maintenance and support for ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. Cristal’s favorite activity is spending time with her son and watching cartoons together.

Adrián Galindo Sanchez

Nursery Security, Colorado River Delta

Adrián joined the Sonoran Institute in mid-2022 and serves as a nursery security for the Colorado River Delta program, where he supports restoration work with the care and propagation of native riparian species, maintaining irrigation systems, maintenance and support for ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. He enjoys his work and spending time in nature with his colleagues. 

Galdino Garcia

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

Galdino joined the Sonoran Institute in mid-2021 and serves as a field assistant in the Colorado River Delta program, where he supports restoration work with the care and propagation of native riparian species, maintaining irrigation systems, maintenance and support for ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. Today he says he enjoys his work and companionship during his current work. 

Masiel García

Communication Coordinator

Masiel García has a bachelor’s degree in communications sciences from UVM (Universidad del Valle de México) and a master’s in psychology. She joined Sonoran Institute as part of the Communication Department. She loves giving new ideas for activities with people in-person and in the digital world. Masiel is a very active person who always strives to create peace with those around her. She is a fan of coffee, movies and TV shows, my personal hobby is Writing. She has a beautiful family of 4 and enjoys going out and spending time with them.

José Guadalupe Gutiérrez

Nursery Security, Colorado River Delta

José Guadalupe works as a security guard at the Sonoran Institute. His responsibilities consist of safeguarding the restoration sites where machinery, tools, and the equipment used for the nursery are kept.

Rosa González Gomez

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

Rosy Gonzalez joined the Sonoran Institute in 2015 and works as a field assistant in the Colorado River Delta program, where she supports restoration work such as clearing, collection and production of native riparian species, planting, irrigation, maintenance and support for ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. Rosy used to devote herself to household chores before working in the fields and since then she has enjoyed balancing her work, caring for trees and learning about the natural world around her. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and children. 

Claudio Hernández

Project Manager, Mexicali Fluye

Claudio Hernández is from Mexicali, Baja California. He is driven by his desire to contribute his time and knowledge to social and environmental causes. His experience leading educational and social programs focused on promoting sustainability and environmental protection led him to become the Project Manager of the Mexicali Fluye project at the Sonoran Institute. Since 2022, he has been working hand in hand with communities and the Sonoran Institute team to transform our urban drains into iconic spaces for the city, aiming to improve the quality of life for our communities and ecosystems. He strongly believes that we are a great team, and with everyone’s support, we can create resiliency in the Colorado River Basin and Delta… He also loves soccer!

Ezequiel Hernández Cardenas

Nursery Security, Colorado River Delta

Ezequiel joined the Sonoran Institute in 2014 and works as a field assistant in the Colorado River Delta program, where he supports restoration work such as clearing, collecting and producing native riparian species, planting, irrigation, maintenance and supporting ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. He is originally from the Mexicali Valley and lives in the town of Ricardo Mason Guerrero. Since childhood he has enjoyed the countryside, where his grandfather taught him to create items with natural materials such as Cachanilla. In his spare time, Ezequiel builds colorful benches, tables and chairs and even animal figurines using salted pine branches and that are part of the attraction of Laguna Grande. 

Gerardo Alberto Laurean Moore

Monitoring Technician, Colorado River Delta

Gerardo was born in Mexicali Baja California. Since January 2024, he has been a member of the hydrological monitoring team at Sonoran Institute. When he was young, his grandfather took me to the zoo, where he learned about animals and fostered his passion for nature and conservation, leading him to study biology, physics and astrobiology. He enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, bird watching, and wildlife photography. He spends his free time painting, writing, listening to music and reading.

Alvaro Lucero

Maintenance Technician, Colorado River Delta

Alvaro has worked at Sonoran Institute since mid-2020 as a maintenance technician performing maintenance activities of the office facilities and vehicles, in addition to providing support by performing administrative diligences. In his personal time, he really enjoys spending time with his family. 

Karla Luna Urias

administration and finance manager

Karla has a degree in Administrative Computer Systems from the Center for Higher Studies of the State of Sonora. At the beginning of her career, she worked in education for 6 years, but her life took a turn, and she started working in the federal government with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection. That’s where she discovered that she was interested in environmental issues, it was a very eye-opening experience. She also had the opportunity to work in the municipal government as a municipal operator of drinking water and sewage sanitation, which is the body that regulates water in the city of San Luis Rio Colorado. Her jobs have always been in the administrative area and currently she really enjoys working at Sonoran Institute. It is the first time she has worked in a civil society organization and every day she learns something new. Even if we are remote, she likes the work environment we have and how passionate her colleagues are in the different areas where they work. What she enjoys most is spending time enjoying the sea with her family and friends. 

Angela Melendez

GIS Coordinator, Colorado River Delta

When asked what Angela likes to do, she likes to respond simply by saying that she is a cardboard architect, and she makes maps. Her favorite reaction to that has been from someone who let out an incredulous laugh when asked how she made maps and if she drew them by hand. She would like nothing more than to say yes, in fact, she illustrates them by hand, but no, the reality is that she works with a sensational computer universe where she can manipulate zeros and ones into photos, vectors, tables and instructions. In that process, a lot of information about different landscapes is abstracted and portrayed. And that is the key, her life is the landscapes, and she lives to remember them, recognize them, imagine them, draw them and paint them, but, above all, she lives to be part of a great team that reinvents them by bringing the landscapes to life.  
 
At Sonoran Institute she coordinates the Geographic Information Systems department, where she joins the research and monitoring efforts of the organization through the collection, administration, analysis and visualization of data. One of the most fun and interesting projects in which she has participated in was developing and establishing methodologies to determine the health of vegetation in restoration sites using unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones. Outside of work she loves music, painting, and advocating for social and environmental justice.

Alma Merendón

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

Alma joined the Sonoran Institute in 2013 and serves as a field assistant in the Colorado River Delta program, where she supports restoration work such as clearing, collecting and producing native riparian species, planting, irrigation, maintenance and ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites.  Her favorite activity at work is removing salt cedar and other shrubs. Alma enjoys attending parties and dancing cumbia and to romantic songs.

Mariana Miranda

PUBLIC POLICY COORDINATOR, Colorado River Delta

Mariana is passionate about nature and an enthusiastic reader of science fiction, fantasy and essay novels. She loves running, where she can enjoy scenic landscapes and feels at peace when she is one with nature. In 2016 she started running 5 and 10 km races and soon became fond of long-distance running. She has run 20 half marathons and one marathon. The experiences she has in training and preparing herself both physically and mentally for marathons helped to unlock new perspectives she had on life and her understanding of herself: She is disciplined, committed, passionate, and capable to achieve whatever she sets out to do.  

This has reflected in her professional career as well—She has a degree in administration from the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Azcapotzalco where she began her work with public administration and environmental issues. She has spent 13 years with the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources in Baja California as the Chief of the Department of Sector Development.  

During the last two and a half years, Mariana has been a part of the Sonoran Institute team as the Public Policy Coordinator. She supports the Institute in carrying out the management of projects with state and federal authorities as well as plans and implements actions for our wetland sites, Ramsar 814 and 1822.

Juan Carlos Muñoz

Field Manager, Colorado River Delta

Juan Carlos Muñoz is a field manager for the Colorado River Delta Program, originally from Hermosillo, Sonora. Since he was little his family encouraged outdoor activities such as camping, which led him to study ecology to better understand his environment. He is passionate about working with wildlife. His favorite activities connect him to the outdoors – like camping and fishing, where he can spend time in nature in a way that brings a sense of peace. Juan Carlos enjoys traveling and seeing new places, mainly taking trips by motorcycle and with friends.

Humberto Pacheco

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

Humberto has been part of the Sonoran Institute since July 2018 as a Field Assistant. Some of his main duties include the surveillance and protection of CILA Park, one of our most emblematic restoration sites, and the support in monitoring in the estuary of the Colorado River. Humberto is originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, knows the art of fishing and enjoys doing this activity whenever possible. 

Tomás Rivas

RESTORATION SPECIALIST, Colorado River Delta

Tomás Rivas is a marine biologist who graduated from the Autonomous University of Campeche , specializing in marine ecology and biological diversity of coastal zones. He currently works on restoration and conservation projects in the Colorado River and its estuaries. In the last ten years, he has focused on conservation and restoration projects, monitoring water quality, zooplankton, fish and other freshwater and marine aquatic fauna. He is concentrated on a resilient future for the Sonoran Desert, the Colorado River, its estuary and the Gulf of California. He also has experience in monitoring fauna, especially insects phylogenetic, taxonomic, and systematic analysis. 

Alejandro Rosas

HYDROLOGICAL MONITORING COORDINATOR, Colorado River Delta

Since he was a child he was driven by a curiosity to explore the world, this has led him to observe nature and form questions, leading him to choose a professional training Geophysics at BUAP and later a postgraduate degree in Applied Geosciences from IPICY. The knowledge acquired brought him closer to understanding the physical properties that act on Earth, the dynamic processes that gave rise to rivers, mountains and what shaped the landscape we see. At the end of his studies, he worked 5 years in geophysical exploration projects to locate groundwater and mineral storages in arid areas of Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí and Puebla. These experiences were his introduction to drought and the impact of anthropogenic actions on the pollution of water resources, which inspired him to do more for the environment. Since June 2017, he has been the coordinator of hydrological monitoring at Sonoran Institute, where he leads a team of water professionals that collects hydrological data to measure environmental impacts in the Colorado River Delta. He turns data into information that is the scientific basis for decision-making in water management. He collaborated in designs and ecological restoration plans where he identified areas that require actions to improve hydrological connectivity and optimize the use of water that sustains the flora and fauna of the region. Outside of work, he is a hiker who continues to explore the world, from the paths, the lyrics, the music, conversations and silence.

Enrique Rosas

Field Assistant, Colorado River Delta

Enrique joined the Sonoran Institute in mid-2017 and serves as a field assistant in the Colorado River Delta program, where he supports restoration work such as clearing, collection and production of native riparian species, planting, irrigation, maintenance and support for ecological monitoring activities at restoration sites. Enrique has almost ten years of experience working in the fields of the Mexicali Valley where he used to collect and pack vegetables. Today he says he enjoys coexistence and companionship during his current work. Every day he rides his bike to stay in shape and to appreciate the surrounding landscape, he also plays baseball and soccer. 

Mateo Sánchez

Hydrological and Ecological monitoring technician, Colorado River Delta

Mateo is a Hydrological and Ecological Monitoring Technician, responsible for the collection and analysis of data in monitoring sites. He is a Bioengineer and graduated from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC) and later obtained his Masters in Life Sciences with Orientation in Marine Biotechnology from the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, B.C. (CICESE). During his professional training he has specialized in environmental microbiology, microbial detection techniques and bioinformatics analysis. During his personal time, he enjoys extreme sports such as surfing, skateboarding and mountain biking, as well as playing bass guitar. 

Edith Santiago

Associate Program Director, Colorado River Delta

Edith discovered her love of ocean creatures at a young age watching Jaques Cousteau documentaries. This led her to study oceanology at the University of Baja California in Ensenada. Wanting to learn more about how different aspects of the environment work together, she received her Master’s of Science in comprehensive environmental science in the UK. During her time in the UK, she focused her studies on wetland ecology. When she returned to Mexico, she worked with the ANP Lagoon terminal with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), the Natural Spaces and Sustainable Development (ENDESU), and later with the Mexican Petroleum Institute. Her work has focused on wetland restauration and working with the communities that rely on them. 
She has worked with the Sonoran Institute since 2004, where she currently focuses on making work plans, identifies the financial needs of the Delta program and supports the development of the Institutes project proposals. She is the contact point for donors and partners of the Sonoran Institutes project partners. In her free time Edith listens to music, spends time with her family and friends, spends time exercising in the outdoors, and enjoys puzzles.

Grecia Sanchez Rosales

Hydrology monitoring technician, Colorado River Delta

Grecia Dayana Sanchez Rosales, monitoring technician in the hydrology department at the Sonoran Institute. She holds a degree in Biotechnology in Aquaculture from UABC Ensenada and completed her Master’s in Life Sciences with a focus on Marine Biotechnology at CICESE. Her research involved studying the transcriptomic resilience to climate change in two populations of clams cultivated in the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean. She also interned at the ecophysiology laboratory at CIBNOR La Paz. She is passionate about applied science and contributing to the movement towards a sustainable environment. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and baking.

José Tadeo

Hydrology Technician, Colorado River Delta

José is a Civil Engineer and graduated from the Autonomous University of Baja California. He previously dedicated himself to civil works in the private and government sector, where his role was supervising construction of dirt roads, foundations, black work and finishes. At the end of 2019 he started at Sonoran Institute, working as a Hydrology Technician. His responsibilities include programming, supervision, and monitoring of surface water deliveries at restoration sites, and supporting different engineering projects. It is the first time he has worked in a civil society organization, where he has learned about the importance of caring for the environment and restoration work. He is very satisfied to be able to better the natural resources of the Colorado River. In his free time, he enjoys the company of his family and friends, drawing and visiting the local aquarium. 

Carolina Valdez Gil Samaniego

Engineering Project Coordinator, Colorado River Delta

Carolina is a Civil Engineer and graduated from the Autonomous University of Baja California where she studied a master’s degree in architecture with a focus on urban development. During her studies she developed strategies to reforest the city of Mexicali with native vegetation and vegetation adapted to the climate planted in key areas to reduce the temperature of the area through green infrastructure. Before joining Sonoran Institute, she worked in the Ministry of Public Security and later in the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Baja California as a works and projects engineer, where she monitored the progress of the construction of units and the major maintenance of properties; she also worked at the architecture firm MV Arquitectos as an executive project engineer. In her free time, she loves going for walks with her husband, playing with her Chihuahua, Martina and being with her family and friends. She looks forward to the opportunities presented with Sonoran Institute.

Karina Velderrain Ramos

Administrative Coordinator

Enrique Villegas

Program Director, Colorado River Delta

Enrique has a background in public service and private sector work, including roles such as director of Ecology of Mexicali and Secretary of Environmental Protection of the State of Baja California. Enrique holds a bachelor’s degree in oceanology from the Autonomous University of Baja California and a master’s degree in aquaculture from Auburn University.