Meet Zander Opperman, 2026 Stewardship Intern
Zander Opperman and pile burning. Photo by staff
The Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma) Stewardship Intern Program is pleased to welcome Zander Opperman as the 2026 Stewardship Intern. A Stanford Biology MS student set to graduate in June, Zander will work with Professor Tad Fukami, Jorge Ramos, and the rest of the Jasper Ridge staff to update the preserve's wildfire resilience management plan.
The Stewardship Intern Program is an exciting initiative that empowers aspiring students interested in conservation to gain hands-on field experience. Supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, whose mission is to support innovative people working in field-based science, this immersive program provides students with real-world experience in active environmental stewardship while developing skills in field ecology and natural history.
As the preserve adapts to changing fire conditions in the Bay Area and California, Zander will play a key role in updating Jasper Ridge's wildfire resilience management plan. His work will help ensure the preserve is prepared while protecting its valuable research and educational sites and biodiversity.
Get to know Zander in his own words:
"Growing up at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, most of Zander's education has been in the outdoors. He is a member of the 2023 Docent class and has been involved with Jasper Ridge ever since. He has worked as a Living Lab Fellow to implement the 2024 March pile burns and conducting research on the geochemistry of soils following pile burning (Fig. 1). Zander brings his experience working for The Nature Conservancy, Forest Service, Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association, and CzechGlobe—in addition to being from a fire family—to help JRBP'O'O plan and prepare for a changing firescape. Outside the Ridge, he stays busy as a member of club triathlon and finding ways to avoid the indoors. In June, Zander will graduate from his Co-term in Biology and move to Grand Teton National Park to work on the Wildland Fire Module."
We're excited to see the impact Zander will make this summer as he brings his deep knowledge of fire ecology and land management to Jasper Ridge!
Figure 1. Zander Opperman working the 2024 pile burns at Jasper Ridge.