Allison Alberts, Ph.D.
Director of Conservation and Research,
Benirschke Director's Chair
Zoological Society of San Diego
Dr. Allison Alberts serves the Zoological Society as director of Conservation and Research. She is responsible for the ongoing conservation science activities of the Zoological Society, including work at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research (CRES) and in field projects around the world.
Dr. Alberts joined the Zoological Society in 1991 as a postdoctoral research fellow. In 1993, she became an associate scientist and, in 1995, was named head of the CRES Ecology Division. In 2000, her group expanded to become the Applied Conservation Division, dedicated to conservation of plants and animals in their natural habitats and restoration of endangered species to their native environments.
Dr. Alberts was awarded bachelor of arts and coctorate degrees in biology from the University of California, Berkeley and San Diego, respectively. She also completed the tropical ecology course of study at the Universidad de Costa Rica, Organization for Tropical Studies. During her career, she has received numerous grants and awards, and has participated in many conservation studies throughout the world. With a special interest in reptiles, she has conducted research on the critically endangered iguanas of the Caribbean and Fiji, as well as projects on several native California lizards and snakes.
In addition to leading CRES, Dr. Alberts is an adjunct professor of biology at San Diego State University and serves on the Environmental Working Group of the San Diego Community Foundation. She has published over 160 papers and abstracts, including two books.
Among her many honors and awards, Dr. Alberts’ work has been recognized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (National Research Service Awards), the American Association of Museums, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She has served the International Union of Conservation and Nature (IUCN) as co-founder and co-chair of the Iguana Specialist Group from 1997 to 2007, and is president of the International Iguana Foundation.
Dr. Alberts is also a member of several professional associations, including the IUCN Species Survival Commission, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Professional Fellow), Society for Conservation Biology, Animal Behavior Society, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, and the Zoological Society of London (Scientific Fellow).
