As The Roger Jones Director of Conservation Science, Bernadette Rigley leads VWL’s research program, setting its scientific vision, building collaborations and ensuring its research drives conservation action. A conservation ecologist with expertise in avian, behavioral and population ecology, she builds dynamic, collaborative research teams to conduct applied research on biodiversity on working lands. Her work is grounded in partnerships with landowners, livestock producers, agencies and conservation organizations, helping translate ecological research into practical conservation outcomes and evidence-based decision-making across agricultural landscapes. A dedicated mentor, she engages students and interns in hands-on research and helps them build the technical, analytical and field skills they need to become conservation leaders.