Serda Ozbenian

Serda Ozbenian is a researcher with 11 years’ experience working on environmental and social issues. Born in Maryland, Ozbenian has dedicated the last six years to environmental issues in Armenia. Since its founding in 2007, Ozbenian has been the executive director of the Armenian Environmental Network, a project of Earth Island Institute based in Berkeley, Calif. Ozbenian is currently involved with waste management, environmental education, protected area management, wild edible plants, ecotourism, and wild animals in captivity. As part of her graduate work, Ozbenian conducted a survey of attitudes toward and conflicts with wolves and bears in rural villages in Armenia. Ozbenian augmented this research through her recently completed Fulbright Fellowship in Armenia with a research focus on population surveys of wolves and bears. Ozbenian holds an M.S. in environmental science and policy from George Mason University and a B.S. in animal behavior and photography from Towson University.