Mary Guthrie

My role at the Cornell Lab is to find ways for people to connect with us that are meaningful to them. Our team works with people who want to help the Cornell Lab conserve the earth’s biodiversity through strategic programs and projects, and I focus on connecting with individuals who are interested in funding these projects. Our donors see the value of the strategic goals we have set and want to help us get there.

After working as a journalist in Los Angeles, I returned to the Ithaca, New York, area and worked for Cornell’s business school in communications. My first job at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was finding ways to monetize the archive of animal sounds, and eventually my role evolved to focus on working with companies to raise the Cornell Lab’s visibility through partnerships. Currently I focus on working with individuals who would like to support the Cornell Lab’s strategic objectives.

Education

M.A. Journalism, University of Southern California
B.A. Government, Cornell University

Outside the Lab

I’m not a great birder, but I’ve always been a conservationist. In high school I volunteered at the Los Angeles Zoo, where the first captive-breeding effort was starting with California Condors. I love to be outdoors and enjoy hiking, camping and kayaking. It’s fascinating to me how technology is assisting in conserving habitat and individual animals. I hope we can apply enough of it in time, and raise enough awareness, to avoid an extinction crisis.