Dr. Leeanne Alonso is an entomologist who serves as a Vice-President for Field Assessment, Research and Monitoring in the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) at Conservation International in Washington, DC. She directs the Rapid Assessment Program (RAP). Leeanne organizes teams of scientists to visit “biodiversity hotspots” around the world where they document plant and animal life in unexplored areas. These RAP teams collect the biological information needed for conservation action, including the discovery of new species. Leeanne specializes in tropical ants and participates in RAP surveys whenever she can.

Career Path: Leeanne earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin: one in liberal arts and the other in zoology. She earned her doctorate at Harvard University where she studied with the pre-eminent scientist, Dr. Edward O. Wilson. Leeanne’s greatest challenge may be her identical five-year old twins. She’s already training them to be future RAP team members.