Cassie Festa

Cassie is the Engagement Assistant at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, where she supports volunteer engagement, community outreach, and public-facing programs that connect people with birds and conservation.

Her love of birds began while working with scarlet macaws in Costa Rica, an experience that shaped her path into conservation and environmental education. Cassie earned her MS in Conservation Biology in England and has studied and worked internationally in Tanzania, Costa Rica, and Panama, gaining experience in wildlife care, research, and community-based conservation.

Cassie is passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming spaces where people of all backgrounds feel comfortable engaging with nature. At Mitchell Lake, she focuses on building strong volunteer programs, supporting community science, and sharing the stories of the center through thoughtful communication and outreach.

Outside of work, Cassie enjoys birding, ice hockey, and traveling, and is always excited to learn about new places through their wildlife and communities.