Program Officer
Caitlin Burke comes to Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation with environmental research, teaching and nonprofit work experience at the national, state, and local level. Previously, she was associate director at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina where she oversaw the organization’s service programs, managed collaborative programs including sourcewater protection and climate change efforts, supported its community economic development partnerships, and co-led its racial equity efforts. Caitlin taught natural resource policy at NC State, and environmental conflict resolution at Duke University. Her research experience includes studying the role of science in environmental decision-making, how communication efficacy relates to more disaster resilient communities, and the factors influencing environmental organizations’ choice of tactics to shape National Forest management. She has worked with the Department of Defense and its partners to encourage compatible land use around military bases and develop a prescribed fire strategy to support longleaf pine restoration in the Southeast. She has conducted policy research and advocacy with nonprofit organizations including The Wildlife Society and WakeUP Wake County. Caitlin has a BS in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech and a PhD in Forestry and Environmental Resources from NC State. Caitlin moved to North Carolina in 2004.
Caitlin can help provide more information about:
- ZSR’s Fostering a Healthy and Sustainable Environment priority area.