MEET THE TEAM
Staff
Mitchell Coleman, Executive Director
Having grown up in Bakersfield, Mitchell has been connected to Tejon Ranch since childhood, first visiting through the Scouts BSA and developing an early appreciation for the landscapes he now helps steward. In 2015, he received a grant to conduct his master’s thesis research on the Ranch, a formative experience that also allowed him to intern with the Conservancy. During that time, he built lasting relationships with Conservancy staff and gained firsthand insight into the importance of the organization’s mission.
Shortly after completing his master’s thesis in 2017, Mitchell joined the Conservancy as a staff biologist. From 2019 to 2025, he served as Conservation Science Director, overseeing science and stewardship programs, coordinating research initiatives, and acting as the Conservancy’s designated conservation easement monitor. He was appointed Executive Director in December 2025.
Mitchell specializes in plant physiological ecology, with a focus on restoration strategies in ecosystems affected by global change – especially those involving halophytic (salt-loving) plants. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Westmont College, an M.S. in Biology from CSU Bakersfield, and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from UC Riverside.
Beyond his scientific background, Mitchell is a passionate ambassador for Tejon Ranch. He is dedicated to sharing the Ranch’s ecological and cultural richness with visitors, students, supporters, and community partners, and is committed to guiding the Conservancy into its next chapter of science, stewardship, public access, and education.
Reema Hammad, Public Access and Education Manager
Reema started at the Conservancy in 2016 as a docent after completing her California Naturalist certification. In 2018, she was hired as a Public Access and Education Assistant, where she helped lead hikes and tours on the Ranch. Now, she serves as the Public Access and Education Manager, overseeing various activities on the Ranch for both the public and educational purposes. Being on the Tejon Ranch has provided Reema with the opportunity to further pursue her passion and career as a landscape and nature photographer.​​
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Monica Uriaz, Staff Biologist
Monica grew up in Bakersfield with a deep appreciation for the high biodiversity and endemicism found in the San Joaquin Valley. She obtained her B.S. in Biology from California State University, Bakersfield, and continued onto graduate studies at her alma mater in the Fall of 2024 to pursue an M.S. in Biology with a focus on plant physiological ecology. During this time, Monica joined the Conservancy through a valley oak restoration internship. This internship granted her the opportunity to focus her ongoing master's thesis research on the factors limiting valley oak seedling recruitment in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
In the Spring of 2025, Monica began her new role with the Conservancy as the Biological Technician. Her main duties include the monitoring of 10 active conservation easements on the Ranch and assisting with administrative tasks. She is excited to continue her master's research while helping to preserve the precious ecosystems of Tejon Ranch.
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Docent
Mark Duffel
I was born and raised in East Bakersfield, so the Tejon Ranch has always been the backdrop whenever you looked outside. Family friends worked and raised their own families on the ranch and honestly that was about as far as my thoughts about the ranch traveled. Fast forward sixty plus years and I’ve discovered the beauty and uniqueness of the largest privately owned property in California. After retiring from a life in the transportation industry I was looking for somewhere meaningful to contribute my time and photography talents. Thankfully, a friend who was already a docent for the conservancy shepherded me into the fold. Currently I serve as a volunteer docent and photographer while also managing the trail camera array. In a small operation, everyone—staff and volunteers—wears many hats to accomplish our mission. Hopefully, by guiding small public access tours and researchers I can help others discover the rich history and beauty of this wonderful place and see it through my eyes.
Dick Taylor
In early 2017, my wife Cheryl and I attended a wildflower tour on Tejon Ranch. I inquired as to how one might become involved in such tours of the ranch. To that end, Tejon Ranch Conservancy was offering classes as part of the California Naturalist Training Program. I signed up and began attending classes while still working full-time. This was something that I could see myself doing when I retired, which happened the following year.
Through The Conservancy I am involved in wildlife camera monitoring, public access tours, and citizen science.
My passions are the rich history of Tejon Ranch, its wildlife, and the way the land looks and feels, including rocks and vegetation. I absolutely love sharing this enthusiasm with our guests.
Don Britton
I became familiar with the Tejon Ranch Conservancy in March of 2022 with I went on a Cross Ranch Tour led by my good friend Dick Taylor. I instantly became fascinated with the ranch while on that tour and asked how I could become a volunteer/docent like he was, since I was going to be retiring in January of 2023. I started volunteering one year later and currently help out on public tours, wildlife camera maintenance and invasive plant controls.
Being on the ranch gives me a feeling of solitude, being able to escape from the city life most of us deal with every day and allows me to connect with nature by viewing and photographing amazing scenery and wildlife every time I’m on the ranch.