Susana Cárdenas-Alayza PhD

Born in Peru in 1983, Susana did her primary school in Lima and then lived for 7 years in New York while her parents studied graduate programs abroad. She always had a strong interest in animals and was even more so inspired by 1990´s save the planet media campaigns. She studied Biology for her undergraduate studies at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. During her final year was able to -finally- visit Punta San Juan, a magical place that became a second home to her. After working as a volunteer, thesis student, research assistant Susana passed on to become Director of the Punta San Juan Program in 2010, when she was finishing her Masters in Science at University of British Columbia, and Dr. Patricia Majluf confided in her the reigns of the program. She has  completed a PhD in a joint program between Université de Montpellier in France and her home university in Peru, where she is currently Associate Professor, and  teaches undergraduate and master level students ecology related courses. She is member of several national and international conservation committees, has authored in 30+ scientific publications, has led multiple projects and has been awarded with the 2016 Disney Conservation Hero Award, 2021 Beca del Mar Peruano by Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, 2021 Rostros del Bicentenario by Universidad de Lima and the 2022 Rising Conservation Leader Award by Chicago Zoological Society.