New Director Named for Tucker
Wildlife Sanctuary
August 25, 2003 :: No. 27
Karon Cornell, director of community relations
for Cal State Fullerton for the past three years, has been named
director of the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, a 12-acre nature preserve
in Modjeska Canyon operated by the university. She will assume her
new duties Sept. 2.
The announcement of the new director follows the appointment
of Birkin Newell, an educator, naturalist and restoration ecologist
who grew up in the area, as the new on-site manager of the popular
facility.
The sanctuary, which has been closed since last fall
because of personnel changes and storm damage, will reopen to the
public Sept. 1.
“In Karon, we have a person with a solid background
in community relations,” said Kolf O. Jayaweera, dean of the
college of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, which oversees the
facility.
“In Birkin, we have a teacher and biologist,
who has worked extensively in nature education with schoolchildren.
Together as leaders, Cornell and Newell will work to fully realize
the great potential of this facility for the benefit of the community
and the university.”
Cornell, a Fullerton alumna (B.A. English ’74,
M.S. education-education administration ’81) is a past executive
committee chair of the President’s Associates and formerly
served as a director of public affairs for Pacific Bell. The Yorba
Linda resident joined the university in 1997 as liaison for governmental
and community relations and was named director of community relations
in 2000. In her new post, she succeeds Barry Thomas, who retired
last year.
Newell, 31, lived near Tucker from age five until
he left to attend UC Santa Barbara, where he earned a bachelor’s
degree in aquatic biology. He is the son of canyon residents Bruce
and Beth Newell.
Tonight the sanctuary will host a Mars viewing from
8 – 10 p.m. as a pre-opening event. The red planet is closer
to earth than it was been for 60,000 years, and the public is invited
to view Mars through university telescopes.
“The location of Tucker is a great place for
Orange County residents to view Mars,” said Jeff Cady, staff
physicist at CSUF. “The secluded site is away from city lights
and is much closer than other viewing areas with low light levels,
such as Palmdale, Joshua Tree National Monument and Apple Valley.”
Cady will be present to answer questions. Visitors are advised to
call the sanctuary at (714) 649-2760 to learn of any weather conditions
that may affect viewing.
The Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary has been operated by
Cal State Fullerton as an educational facility for more than 30
years.
Media Contacts: |
Birkin Newell, Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary,
at (714) 649-2760 or bnewell@fullerton.edu
Kolf O. Jayaweera, dean of the College of Natural Sciences and
Mathematics, at 657-278-2638 or kjayaweera@fullerton.edu
Dave Reid, Public Affairs, at 657-278-4855 or dreid@fullerton.edu |
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