Hey all!
My name is Shaunna and I am Executive Director of The Big Bad Project.
The short version of my CV:
I started The Big Bad Project as a way to engage people in casual conservation conversations with the idea that we can empower ourselves, and each other, to take steps towards positive change. I elected to work with wolves for a few reasons – they captivate people, they have an important role as a keystone species, and they need some help getting a new narrative.
As a new organization, one of the biggest hurdles in growth is developing the strategies that will move us forward.
A lot of my day-to-day activities involve the Ambassador Animals we have. They require a lot of attention, exercise, and training.
I truly love program development, from conception of the initial idea to creating the strategies to ensure success.
Many of my late nights or early mornings are spent prospecting for grants that we may be a fit for in the coming 1-2 years.
It is my personal goal to spark passion in others, whether it is about the environment in general or a specific species. I want to see people form a deeper connection to the world around them and I believe I can do that through the programming we’ve created here at The Big Bad Project.
I love art and I really enjoy creating. I keep myself pretty busy with work but I always try to find time to scratch that creative itch!
Right now, I am on a watercolor and ink kick. It provides a challenge and a lesson in patience, which is something I think extends to all parts of my life. Most of the time I will work on a piece, scan it, then vectorize it for some silly and fun stickers or t-shirts.
I tend to be drawn to more macabre subject matter, lots of skulls or horror-themes. Sometimes, it is really silly 80’s and 90’s themes that have to do with movies or pop culture from when I was a kid. One of my favorites is a piece of a graboid from the movie Tremors. If you’re a fan of the movie, you’re definitely one of my people!
I have always been a lover of music and my tastes run from classical to modern. I grew up in Southern California and have been to dozens of music festivals, seeing hundreds of bands in the process. I have slowed down a lot over the years but I still try to see a concert every few months.
Magic City Hippies kicked off the 2024 concert series and we already have Future Islands, Rob Zombie, and Alice Cooper in the line-up. In a perfect world, I would get to add Magic Sword, Timecop1983, Roosevelt, Wardruna and Tame Impala to that list too.
It is impossible for me to pick a favorite artist but some of the most played in my rotation are Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Tiny Tim, Timecop1983, Future Islands, and Wolfie’s Just Fine.
