Participants

Bill Durham, '71
Faculty Leader
Bill Durham, ’71, is an innovative researcher and teacher who has focused on two themes for most of his career: (1) on putting principles of evolution to work in understanding and sustaining biological and cultural diversity in the world today; and (2) on identifying the social dimensions of contemporary environmental problems and working with local people to help solve them. In 1992, Bill worked with Stanford Travel/Study to create a series of programs providing experiential learning for students in Sophomore College together with Stanford alumni and friends. He travels to the Galápagos Islands almost every year and believes that educational travel is one of the most enriching experiences one can have. Bill led our last field seminar in Patagonia ten years ago and is excited to return. He has long held a special interest in Patagonia, in part because the region so influenced the young Charles Darwin through its flora, fauna, and fossils, and in part because of its spectacular parks and conservation area.

Kathy Durham, '71

Kathy grew up on a hybrid seed corn farm in rural Nebraska, then flourished in a teacher’s training high school before applying to Stanford in early 1967. As fate would have it, she met Bill in Freshman English class. They both found suitable graduate programs at the University of Michigan (in Political Science and Evolutionary Biology respectively) and got married at the end of the first year of grad school.  When Bill was hired at Stanford in 1977, Kathy found a dream job as the Program Coordinator in the Center for Latin American studies. As a family (with sons Joey and Drew) they lived for six months in a native community in the San Blas Islands of Panama. Other memorable study/travel stays included Bielefeld, Germany, Santiago, Chile, and Oxford, England. When their sons reached middle school, Kathy pivoted to expand a bicycle safety program in Palo Alto at all elementary schools, which evolved into a paid position as Alternative Transportation Coordinator for the City of Palo Alto, CA. Bicycle ridership among Palo Alto high school students rose to 38% at the time she retired in 2016. Kathy’s hobbies include family genealogy, caring for her grandfather’s iris breeds, and US politics.

Ana-Catrina Buchser, '00, MA '01
Stanford Tour Manager
Hailing from Romania, Ana-Catrina was born into a family of artists who believed traveling is just as educational as going to a university. So she did both! After exploring Europe throughout her childhood, she ended up at Stanford for her undergraduate and graduate degrees (in Human Biology and Theatre), and now continues to explore the world with her husband and two teenaged daughters. When she’s not planning or tour managing trips for Stanford Travel/Study, Ana-Catrina sings with Symphony San Jose Chorale. Ana-Catrina will be working closely with our faculty leader, SCAs, tour operator, and local guides to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Diego Reale
Patagonia Tour Manager
My name is Diego Martín Reale, and I am a National Tour Guide based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with over 20 years of experience in the tourism industry. I am passionate about traveling and discovering new cultures. I see tourism as a powerful tool for cultural connection, personal growth, and meaningful exchange. This philosophy is reflected in every experience I design, where I aim to go beyond traditiona l sightseeing and share the identity, traditions, and stories that define Argentina. On a personal level, I am married to Natalia, and I am the proud father of Simona, who is 11 years old. My family is a fundamental pillar in my life and a constant source of inspiration.

Isaac Nehring, '26, MA '26
Sophomore College Assistant (SCA)
Isaac Nehring was born and raised in Helena, Montana. He recently graduated with a BAH in American Studies and is returning in the fall to complete his coterminal MA in Environmental Communication at Stanford. On campus, Isaac leads the Stanford Rural Engagement Network, works on the educational farm, and previously served as an undergraduate senator in ASSU. Back at home, he's an avid local outdoorsman and has channeled a passion for the environment and public lands into various conservation and policy-oriented roles. He's excited to be supporting this trip as an SCA!

Nick Rodriguez, '25, MS '27
Sophomore College Assistant (SCA)
Hey everyone, my name is Nick Rodriguez and I am an SCA for this course alongside Isaac. I originally came to Stanford in 2021, and just graduated with my Master’s degree in Ecology and Evolution. I currently work as a biologist for the SF city government, and conduct surveys for protected species to make sure company projects comply with endangered species laws. Although I’ve worked on a variety of research projects, entomology (the study of insects) is a personal passion of mine and I would LOVE to talk about it if you bring it up! Ask me about bumblebee surveying, ant foraging behavior, and honestly any bugs we might encounter on our trip. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Jamie Wang, '79 and
Joe Wang,  '78, MS '81, PhD '84
We are so excited to be joining the rest of you! We love spending time in interesting ecosystems and the diversity promised on this trip is amazing. Other than a brief visit to Ushuaia in 2019, we have not seen any of Patagonia. This will be our tenth trip with Stanford Travel and our fourth Sophomore College trip with Professor Bill Durham (twice to Galapagos and once to Tanzania). Sophomore College trips are always special because we get to learn from current students as well as Bill and local naturalists. See you in September!

Karen Coffee, '71
After retiring from a fulfilling career in State government, I have been living my dream in the oldest house (and former hotel) in Clarksburg CA on the Sacramento River. I spend my time volunteering for several organizations and my leisure with friends at any one of the 21 wineries around me.

Ryan Ho,  '29
Hi all! My name is Ryan, and I can’t wait to meet you all on this exciting trip to Patagonia. I grew up in Hong Kong, intend to major in Civil Engineering, and am especially interested in how lived experiences vary across built communities worldwide. I am a traveler by heart, and I hope this trip will let me expand my interests to conservation in the natural world. You will certainly be seeing me around with my Nikon camera!

Yeva Allyn, '29

Hi! I’m Yeva, from Kaua’i — one of the smaller islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. Though undecided in my exact major, I’m studying an environmental justice related subject as I’m passionate about things like traditional land management. I’m spending my summer at home writing about watershed restoration /water as a public trust, teaching kids sailing on dinghys, and getting as much sun as possible before we go to not-so-sunny Patagonia!! I’m beyond excited to meet everyone in just a few weeks!

Julia Shiang
I'm looking forward to meeting each of you and exploring Patagonia with you. The photo is of me with two of my grandchildren, ages 9 and 7. Two of our three grown children attended Stanford. One of our grandsons is now at the Stanford Summer Jazz Camp. Interests: Being in nature, hiking, free movement in the outdoors, taking care of grandchildren.

I'm a clinical psychologist, recently retired from clinical practice but still teaching at New York University in the Applied Psychology Program. I love living in NYC, popping into the Blue Note, and walking along the High Line. See you in September!

Richard Tsien
I am a neuroscientist experienced in starting departments, first in molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford and later in neuroscience at NYU. I love New York institutions, including museums and public library, and the public transportation system which provides a hub near our Washington Square pad. For relaxation I  watch spy thrillers and nature programs and listen to Bach, Sibelius, British rock and African pop.

Harvey Fineberg

Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD, is professor emeritus of Health Policy and Management at Harvard University and serves as a vice president of the American Philosophical Society. He chairs the board of trustees of the China Medical Board and serves on the boards of the California Council on Science and Technology and the Charles Darwin Foundation. He previously served as president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, president of the U.S. Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine), provost of Harvard University, and dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His policy and research interests span science and health, and his research has touched on topics as varied as reproducibility in science, medical decision making, global health, and pandemic preparedness and response.

Mary Wilson

Mary E. Wilson is an infectious disease physician and professor (Harvard and UCSF). Her  interests include tuberculosis, emerging infections, vaccines, and travel medicine. She has written books on antimicrobial resistance and the global geography of infectious diseases (published by Oxford University Press). As an infectious diseases fellow she worked at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Haiti and later helped develop and teach the Harvard-Brazil collaborative course, taught in Brazil.  She has served on advisory boards in Mexico and Bangladesh, has worked with colleagues globally through the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network,  and currently serves on the Board of Directors for One Health Trust. Visiting Patagonia has been a longstanding dream, and she is eager to explore this area with her husband and Stanford colleagues.

Mayhixel Ixmata Schaff, '29

Hello, I'm Mayhixel. I plan to major in sustainable architecture + engineering. I'm Maya K'iche, from Nahualá, Guatemala, a community that has taught me a lot about ecological preservation and respect. On campus I work in a genetics lab at Stanford Medical School that studies a disease that specifically affects people with Native American ancestry in South America. I'm also a core member of SISAS (Stanford Indigenous Students of the Americas), where we advocate for Indigenous voices and create space for Indigenous students across the Americas, not just North America, but Central and South too.

I love meeting new people, doing cartwheels, trying new food, and my crusty old camera. You will likely see me with it at all times of the day, let me know if you ever want a pic! Or cartwheel demonstration. 

William Larson, '29

Hi everyone! My name is William Larson. I’m an undergrad from Tiburon, California, studying Marine Science. This summer, I’ve been working at Hopkins Marine Station as a research SCUBA diver. I’ve been diving since I was 13, and it’s a huge passion of mine.

Outside of diving, I love hiking and camping, skiing, reading, and cooking. So if you want to talk about favorite trails, ski slopes, books, or some cool food science, count me in! My aspiration is to leave the world a better place than I found it. I think there’s still so much to discover in the natural world, but we can’t learn what’s out there if we don’t protect it. That’s a big part of why I want to dedicate my life toward conserving what’s left.

Daniel Xu, '29

Daniel is a rising sophomore from Acton, Massachusetts. He is an avid writer, reader, runner, and lover of the outdoors. He is planning on an Economics and English double major, but has a broad range of interests from physics to law. In his spare time, you can find him writing for The Stanford Daily, traveling with the Model UN team, or sidequesting at various on-campus events.

Shuki Bruck, PhD '89
We came to the U.S. from Israel in 1985 with four suitcases and a three-month-old baby boy. Our first stop was Stanford, where Shuki earned his PhD in electrical engineering and Anat worked as a preschool teacher. Three years later, we welcomed our baby daughter. After finishing his PhD, Shuki worked at IBM’s research lab in San Jose. In 1994, we moved to Pasadena, where Shuki became a professor at Caltech—a place that became a home for his research, mentoring, and teaching, some of his favorite activities. Last year, Shuki retired from Caltech and became professor emeritus. He still follows his passions and curiosity, discovering new ideas and areas to study while collaborating with other scientists and students. (continued next column)

Anat Bruck
Anat has also retired from teaching, yet she continues to be fascinated by children, their curiosity, and their wisdom. Together, we love to read, travel, explore, and learn about new places, people, and cultures. We love art, music, Scandinavian movies, and good food. Above all, we love people!!!

This is our fifth travel-study program with Stanford and our second with Professor Durham and his students. We’re looking forward to meeting everyone.

Aayush Pandey,  '29
Hi all, my name is Aayush, and I am very excited to meet all of you in September! I am an international student from Singapore and I am considering majoring in Electrical Engineering. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy travelling, writing, and photography. Through this field seminar, I hope to learn how Patagonian communities approach conservation, and to come away with a more informed perspective on the difficult choices involved in protecting landscapes and ecosystems. I also look forward to travelling with and learning from the alumni who make this trip so different from any other.

Tishya Wren, MS '94, PhD '97
I am a bioengineer doing clinical orthopaedic research at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. I got my undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Amherst College and masters' and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering from Stanford. My husband and I have two kids in college and live in Palos Verdes (Los Angeles area). I am originally from Hawaii and have been on 3 previous Stanford travel trips, but none with students.

Jon Wren, MS '89, PhD '94
My Stanford story started with graduate studies in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, then later as an Adjunct Professor for over a decade teaching a graduate course in dirt, and sitting on Ph.D. examination committees.  The highlight of my Stanford experience has been meeting my wife, Tishya, when we were students in one of the graduate residences.  For my day job, I’ve been a “Failure” as a consultant at Failure Analysis Associates, renamed Exponent.  My career has taken me all over the US and world investigating the cause of structure failures and landslides, studying the effects of earthquakes, and evaluating the hydrological effects of wildfires, to name a few.  Over the past couple decades, I’ve accumulated some unusual stories. Ask me about what it’s like to be lying on a skateboard inside a leech lined irrigation pipe, falling off the side of a mountain, or heartbreaking accounts of wildfire victims. 

This trip will mark the sixth country I will have visited this year and will be Tishya’s and my fourth Stanford Travel Study adventure.

Paloma Hodje, '28

Hi everyone, my name is Paloma, and I'm a rising junior studying electrical engineering, interested in its application to med tech, global health, and environmental engineering. I'm looking forward to learning about the impact of people on conservation in Patagonia, and to doing a lot of photography during this learning seminar.

Sharon Juhnke, '75
I grew up in the Bay Area and attended Stanford in the early 1970’s (Psychology ’75), where my most memorable moments were being on staff at Stanford Sierra Camp, spending two quarters in Florence with Stanford-in-Italy, RA-ing, and honing my acting chops as a confederate in a psych department experiment. While getting my MA in Archaeology at UCLA, I met and married Dave Juhnke ’77, who was attending law school there at the time. I worked at various museums in LA before we escaped to idyllic San Luis Obispo. Once here, I continued with archaeology and museum work until the birth of our twin sons, Drew and Chris (both Stanford ’12). During the empty nest years I’ve focused my energy on working with a local nonprofit Fair Trade store, where I’ve served in many roles over the past 15 years. Other passions include travel, hiking, cooking (especially Italian), and enjoying our local wine scene. My favorite new role is that of “Mimi” to our 3 granddaughters, while anticipating the arrival of a grandson at the end of the year.

Dave Juhnke, '77
I was born and raised in Southern California, attended Stanford (’77) and UCLA Law School (’80).  I met my wife Sharon in grad school, and we were married in 1981.  In 1986 we moved to San Luis Obispo where I practiced law with a local firm for 40 years and became heavily involved with the business and non-profit communities.  I retired in 2024 and began pouring wine one day a week as part of my recovery program from being a lawyer. 

We have twin sons who were born in 1990, attended Stanford (’12,’12) and currently live in Oakland and Inglewood.  We have three grandchildren, including a set of identical twin girls, with a fourth grandchild on the way.  In 2018 we participated in a Galapagos Field Seminar with Bill Durham and enjoyed it immensely.  I am looking forward to meeting everyone and to exploring Patagonia together.

Julia Pan, '29
Julia Pan is a rising sophomore interested in studying Earth Systems and minoring in Computer Science. She is passionate about conservation, biodiversity, and the many connections between Homo sapiens and the natural world. Since coming to Stanford, she has been working on a bird-window collision prevention project to help make Stanford a more bird-friendly campus. Ultimately, she hopes to contribute to a future where humans and wildlife can coexist more harmoniously. She is involved with the Stanford Conservation Program, Students for a Sustainable Stanford, and the Stanford Birdwatching Club. Outside of class, she enjoys birdwatching, cooking, photography, and trying new things.

Bala Del Buono,  '29
Hi, I’m Bala! I’m a prospective Neuroscience major, exploring the intersection of women’s health and biotech through research with Stanford's Comparative Medicine department and an autoimmune-focused startup venture. My background is rooted in wildlife conservation and education, built through my time working at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. In my free time, you’ll find me fishing, gardening, playing water polo, or hanging out with my pet chickens.

Olivia Sze,  '29
Olivia is a student from Hillsborough, CA studying economics and data science at Stanford. She’s curious about the intersections of science, policy, and ethics, and is excited to explore these ideas on the ground in Patagonia. Outside the classroom, you can probably find her in the outdoors: exploring new running routes, taking long walks, or simply sitting in the sun with a good book. 

Sally Lillis
Since I grew up in a Navy family, it’s hard to believe that I have lived in Palo Alto for 53 years! After graduating from CU in Boulder, I started growing my Bay Area roots. For over 30 years I loved managing the medical office for an OB/GYN practice in Portola Valley. My solo business doing financial organizing for individuals and couples has also proved to be fun and rewarding. Ken and I are the lucky parents of 3 and grandparents of 6, and we visit them often in Grass Valley, Seattle, and Boulder! Having traveled to Galapagos (2022) and Tanzania (2024) with Sophomore College, we look forward to getting to know the students and the “over-grads” (a term our Tanzanian group happily adopted) and to discovering the adventures that Patagonia will certainly offer!

Ken Lillis, '71
After 45 interesting years with a small Bay Area electronics company, which grew from 3 people to 110, I retired in 2022. We built test equipment for high power microwave tubes, deep space communication transmitters, etc. There were lots of fun science projects along the way! I am an avid birder and look forward to spotting new birds on this trip! I love reading, classical music, physics, art, poetry, cosmology, woodworking, and travel. Sally and I have been together for 50 years and enjoy spending time in Grass Valley CA, Seattle WA, and Boulder CO with our 3 children, their spouses, and 6 grandchildren – two in each family ranging in age from 2 ½  to 20.

Rohan Sieber, '29

I’m Rohan, I’m from the Bay Area and I’ve always been obsessed with wildlife(thanks to David Attenborough). At Stanford I’m a mech-E major with a love for vehicle design and sustainable transportation. When I can, I draw, paint, sing, build things, or play baseball.

Stella Leon, '29
Hola!! My name is Stella Leon and I am an international rising sophomore student from Peru. I was born and raised in a town called Oxapampa, and living there has shaped my passion for public health and disease ecology. I have enjoyed my first year at Stanford so much, especially participating in the VSO Stanford Peru as a financial officer, where I had the opportunity to bring the Peruvian community together. I have also explored my interest in bioengineering and public health, and I had the opportunity to be a King Center Research Fellow on the project “Amazonian Urban Growth: Ecology, built environment and vector-borne disease risk,” working under the mentorship of Dr. Valeria Ramírez-Castañeda in the Labeaud lab. Back in Peru, I have led initiatives focused on health equity and nutrition. I am a proponent of the Two-Eyed Seeing principle, advocating for healthcare systems that integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern medical practices to ensure dignified and equitable access for all. I am so excited for this new journey to Patagonia and can't wait to meet you all!

Marla Stark, '75

For 30 years, I worked as an intellectual property attorney in private practice, and then as chief legal counsel with three publicly-traded technology companies in Silicon Valley.  My husband and I also raised two children, six dogs (in paired generations) and had two wonderful family homes, one in Menlo Park and another in Truckee near Lake Tahoe.  My second act began in 2019 when I called on some colleagues to help me start an environmental non-profit focused on restoration work in the central Sierra Nevada.  JMT Wilderness Conservancy is now in its eighth year, is headquartered in Truckee, CA, and has a staff of 14 full time, with an additional 28 seasonal, staff members. Our projects now span the length of the John Muir Trail from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney where, in the surrounding 2.8 million acres, we restore montane meadows and riparian habitat. Patagonia presents a fascinating case study for our work.  

Ishaan Gupta, '29

I am a student interested in marine ecology and technology. In the past, I’ve monitored white shark health in Monterey; I’m looking forward to witnessing the southern right whales! Additionally, I enjoy hiking, road-trips, and rock climbing. 

Michael Baumgaertner, '78 and
Irene Baumgaertner
We are Irene and Michael Baumgaertner and we very recently (almost fully) retired. I am a 1978 Stanford alum (BA, Art History) who was raised in Minnesota, went to UCSD for medical school and became an orthopaedic trauma surgeon. Irene (raised in western Mass) is a registered nurse and we met during my residency @ UCSF where she earned her BSN. I took a job as Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma @ Yale in New Haven, CT and we are still here after 38 years. I’m now emeritus professor/ senior researcher. We have been blessed with 4 healthy, happy and successful kids (now adults, 24 to 35 years old).  

Despite my degree and my chosen profession, oddly but definitely my favorite class @ Stanford was Intro to Geology! 

We are looking forward to a fantastic journey, particularly because we will share it with a younger, brighter and remarkable group of fellow inquisitive travelers.

Can’t wait to meet Bill and all of you!!!

Jerry Flandro, '73, MS '74
My Stanford on-campus experience began in 1969, the height of the Vietnam War.  Spring of freshman year saw nightly riots on campus and the burning down of the ROTC building.  Response to the turmoil led Stanford President Richard Lyman to shut down the university to undergraduate students half way through spring quarter, with instructions to study your course materials all summer and be prepared to take finals upon return to campus in the fall. Fortunately, my Stanford Engineering degree facilitated employment with Hewlett-Packard, where I had a 28-year career in Manufacturing Operations/ Supply Chain Management.  Extensive travel late in my career (60K-100K miles per year), much of it International, was engaging and rewarding. Leisure travel during retirement has often been with the Stanford Travel program, including seven trips to Greece/Turkey, Prague, Italy, Croatia, Peru, China and now Patagonia.  Summer activities in my home state of Idaho include golfing, bicycling and fly fishing in order to stay in shape for my winter passion of skiing my age in number of ski days on the mountain at my favorite resort of Sun Valley.  Regularly visiting our daughter (Stanford ’11) and family in San Francisco provides an opportunity to remain engaged with Stanford.

Debbie Flandro
Debbie Flandro spent 29 years at Hewlett Packard, in Boise, Idaho, building a career that touched Accounting, Production, and Supply Chain Management before retiring in 2005. She’s a proud Boise State University alum with both a BBA and MBA, and later added an Executive MBA from Duke University. Debbie stays closely connected to Boise State, serving on the Foundation’s Executive Committee and chairing its Governance Sub‑committee. She also previously served on the Advisory Board for the College of Business and Economics, including a term as President. She chairs the Gaming Board for Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington, which is owned and operated by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians—her own tribal community. Debbie has also given her time to organizations like the Treasure Valley YMCA and the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, where she served as a docent. An Idaho native, Debbie lives in Boise with her husband, Jerry. Their daughter, Elissa—a Stanford graduate—now lives in San Francisco with her husband and young son.