Kat Culbertson

Kat Culbertson is a restoration ecologist who is passionate about conserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, and is interested in the intersection of conservation and sustainable development. She grew up in Manhattan, Kansas, graduating from Manhattan High School and completing her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy at Harvard University. Before starting her PhD at Berkeley, she worked for several conservation nonprofits and served in the Peace Corps in Madagascar, which inspired her to research tropical forest restoration. Her current research aims to understand natural forest regeneration to better target restoration interventions and improve restoration maintenance and monitoring, thus benefiting both people and biodiversity.

Kat developed her passion for community service and mentorship starting with the 4H Club, and has been especially involved in environmental conservation, civic education, and science education through various programs. In her free time, she likes to hike, run, climb, and spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Welcome to Berkeley Rotary, Kat!