Keith Lombardo is a Coastal Ecologist and the Director of the Southern California Research Learning Center (SCRLC), where he is charged with facilitating cross-cutting scientific partnerships, engaging the public in scientific exploration, providing scientific opportunities for students and communicating science that supports our stewardship of three uniquely southern Californian National Parks (Cabrillo National Monument, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Channel Islands National Park). Keith’s current research interests are wide-ranging and include topics such as coastal ecology, genetic conservation and ecosystem responses to global change. Keith has also collaborates with conservation partners in Baja California, Portugal and Croatia with a specific interest in marine conservation and science.

Keith received his B.S. degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Arizona. His dissertation research focused on the reconstruction of historic chaparral fire regimes in southern California.