Stephen E. Cornelius

Steve Cornelius

In 2004 the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation] "named Steve Cornelius Program Officer in the Foundations Conservation and Sustainable Development area.

"In this position, Cornelius will be responsible for helping to conserve biodiversity in Latin American and the Caribbean. His work will contribute to the Foundations goal of helping to preserve ecosystems located at key points in the region and to support local institutions and their international allies for the long-term protection of the regions biodiversity. The Foundation makes grants for conservation and sustainable development work in key areas within Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific Rim, and Africa...

"Cornelius joins the Foundation after seven years as Director of the Sonoran Desert Program for the Sonoran Institute, an organization that focuses on cross-border collaboration between U.S. and Mexican resource managers, residents and nongovernmental organizations. For eight years prior to this, he managed World Wildlife Funds conservation program in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. As WWFs regional coordinator, he assisted with the founding of the first graduate program in wildlife management in Latin America at the National University in Costa Rica in 1985 and got his initial experience in Latin America as a Peace Corps Volunteer where he helped in the establishment of the Costa Rica National Parks System in 1970.

"Cornelius received his Bachelor of Science in wildlife and fisheries biology from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in wildlife science from Texas A&M, and conducted field research on waterfowl, sea turtles, and marine fisheries."