Sejal Choksi-Chugh
Executive Director
Sejal Choksi-Chugh
Sejal provides strategic direction and leadership for Baykeeper’s hard-hitting programs and operations to protect San Francisco Bay. She joined Baykeeper straight out of law school in 2002, first serving as an Equal Justice Works fellow, then as program director and in-house attorney. In these roles, Sejal guided Baykeeper’s advocacy to reduce industrial pollution, clean up legacy mercury contamination, prevent agricultural pesticide runoff in the Bay’s Central Valley tributaries, and stop sewage and oil spills throughout the Bay’s watershed. Sejal became Baykeeper’s executive director in 2015, and she is co-founder of the Bay Area chapter of Environmental Professionals of Color. Sejal graduated with highest honors from Emory University in Atlanta GA, where she grew up, and she received her law degree with a certificate in environmental law from UC Berkeley. In addition to her work protecting the Bay and its watershed, Sejal serves locally on the board of Sustainable Lafayette.
Matt Armstrong
Development Coordinator
MATT ARMSTRONG
Matt is a key member of Baykeeper’s development team, coordinating event production, donor relationships, and membership growth. Before joining Baykeeper in 2022, Matt was an outreach and events intern at the Corvallis Environmental Center. He also served as the vice president of community service and philanthropy for the Oregon State University Interfraternity Council, as well as vice chair of the judicial council with the Associated Students of Oregon State University. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, with a specialization in environmental policy and economics from Oregon State University.
Fiona BAker
Communications Manager
FIONA BAKER
Fiona creates content for Baykeeper’s website, e-newsletter, social media, print materials, and other communications to showcase Baykeeper’s achievements protecting San Francisco Bay. She joined Baykeeper after working for the US Agency for International Development’s humanitarian and disaster response office in Washington, D.C. Fiona holds a bachelor’s degree in literature from UC Berkeley and a master’s in international policy from Middlebury College.
Eric Buescher
Managing Attorney
ERIC BUESCHER
Eric is Baykeeper’s senior attorney responsible for implementing our cutting-edge litigation strategy and supervising our team of legal experts. He joined Baykeeper with over ten years of experience as an attorney at the law firm of Cotchett, Pitre, and McCarthy, where he focused on plaintiff-side fraud and elder abuse litigation, as well as key environmental matters involving land use, water, and the public trust. Eric was the lead attorney on the groundbreaking Martin’s Beach public access case representing Surfrider Foundation, and also a lead attorney representing our environmental partners on San Francisco Baykeeper vs. U.S. EPA to protect the Redwood City salt ponds from development. He received his law degree from Georgetown University after graduating from Duke University with a bachelor’s in political science.
Megan Cowdell
Development Manager
MEGAN COWDELL
Megan manages Baykeeper’s foundation and corporate partnerships, and works to build strong relations with individual donors. Before joining Baykeeper in 2023, Megan was deputy director at the California Foundation for Independent Living. She carries forward her commitment to the inclusive principle: “Nothing about us without us.” When Megan’s not advancing the Bay’s well-being, she gives her passion to Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, and advocates on behalf of San Francisco’s wild parrots.
Amy Donovan
Finance Director
AMY DONOVAN
Amy directs Baykeeper’s finance and administrative functions. She joined Baykeeper in 2022 with over 25 years of nonprofit experience. She was most recently the chief financial officer for the Alameda County Community Food Bank, where for 15 years she was responsible for finance, human resources, and information technology. Amy was named CFO of the Year in the nonprofit category by the San Francisco Business Times in 2013. Previously, she managed budgeting and financial analysis for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, SF Symphony, and the Exploratorium. Amy has a master’s degree in business from Yale University, and a bachelor’s degree in business from University of California, Riverside.
Ben Eichenberg
Staff Attorney
BEN EICHENBERG
Ben is responsible for prosecuting our active docket of high-impact water quality cases through research, litigation, and settlement negotiations. He joined Baykeeper in 2016 after several years in private practice at the environmental law offices of Stephan C. Volker, representing environmental and community groups in civil litigation to protect endangered environmental resources. Ben received his JD from University of California Hastings College of the Law in 2009. While at Hastings, he also gained experience at the San Francisco city attorney’s office and the Stanford Environmental Law Clinic. After law school, Ben was a Fulbright Scholar in Oslo, Norway, where he studied climate change regulation and received a master’s degree in public international law from the University of Oslo. Ben obtained his bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where he double majored in philosophy and psychology.
Eliet Henderson
Development Director
ELIET HENDERSON
Eliet Henderson directs Baykeeper’s development efforts, managing supporter outreach, funder relationships, and events. She first joined Baykeeper in 2007. She previously worked in communications on a statewide initiative campaign and as an events coordinator and program assistant at Equal Justice Works in Washington, D.C. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Eric Hoover
Volunteer
ERIC HOOVER
Eric was first introduced to Baykeeper when he joined a Coastal Cleanup Day event with the law firm where he worked. He was impressed with Baykeeper’s mission, and soon became a regular at Baykeeper’s cleanups. When Eric retired after nearly twenty years as the law office administrator for Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP—the Bay Area’s preeminent environmental and land-use law firm—he has devoted more time to Baykeeper as a volunteer, assisting with data management, donor oversight, and event planning—basically, whatever it takes to support the Baykeeper team. Eric is an avid bicyclist and hiker. He likes to give Baykeeper credit for helping to make his treks around the Bay healthier, less polluted, and a bit more beautiful. And we’re honored to have Eric on the team!
AUNDI MEVOLI
Field Investigator and Staff Scientist
AUNDI MEVOLI
Aundi joined Baykeeper in September 2020 as a volunteer on the science team, and we then hired her as our field investigator and policy advocate in 2022. She plays a central role in Baykeeper’s investigation, advocacy, and outreach to local municipal governments and governmental agencies. Aundi is training to be a certified drone operator, and is on call to respond to our pollution hotline. She also conducts pollution patrols, both on the water and with our aerial patrol partners. In addition to being in the field, Aundi leads projects related to sea level rise and toxic site inundation, including efforts to improve green infrastructure and make shorelines climate resilient. Aundi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and a masters degree in global sustainability and natural resource management from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining the environmental field, she worked in the healthcare sector as a chiropractor and educator with a doctor of chiropractic degree from Life West Chiropractic College.
Cheryl Patel
Field Investigator and Community Science Coordinator
Cheryl Patel
Cheryl investigates Bay pollution, makes sure our patrol boat is where it needs to be when it needs to be there, and keeps Baykeeper’s community science and algae monitoring programs moving forward. She’s also the person who’ll respond to you when you contact our pollution hotline. Cheryl joined Baykeeper in 2024, and holds a master’s in marine science from SF State. Before joining the Baykeeper team, Cheryl taught science at the California Academy of Science, and Marine Mammal Center. On weekends, you might run into Cheryl hiking on a local trail, or exploring a tidepool.
JON ROSENFIELD
Science Director
Jon Rosenfield
Jon joined Baykeeper in 2019 as our senior scientist. He is responsible for integrating the best available science into Baykeeper policy positions and legal arguments to protect San Francisco Bay. Prior to joining Baykeeper, Jon worked for over 10 years protecting the Bay’s endangered fishes and commercial fisheries as a conservation biologist with The Bay Institute. Jon has conducted scientific research and translated science for attorneys, policymakers, and the public since the early 1990s, when he first encountered San Francisco Bay and its watershed as a research associate for the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund (now Earthjustice). Jon earned his doctoral degree in biology from the University of New Mexico. He also holds a bachelor’s in natural resource ecology from Cornell University and a master’s in resource management and conservation biology from the University of Michigan.
Nicole Sasaki
Staff Attorney
Nicole Sasaki
Nicole is responsible for prosecuting citizen suits through legal research, analysis and field investigation of pollution sources. She also monitors polluter compliance with Baykeeper’s active Clean Water Act enforcement program. She joined Baykeeper in 2014 after graduating magna cum laude from Pace University School of Law. While in law school, Nicole gained practical experience at the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic where she represented Hudson Riverkeeper, New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, and Waterkeeper Alliance. She also served as a law clerk for Hudson Riverkeeper and Earthjustice. Her work focused on protecting water quality in the New York City watershed and defending New York City public parkland under the public trust doctrine. Nicole holds a bachelor’s in history and political science from UC Berkeley and a law degree from Pace University School of Law with a certificate in environmental law.
Mark Westlund
Communications Director
MARK WESTLUND
Mark oversees Baykeeper’s communications work, from campaign updates to information strategy. He joined Baykeeper in 2020 after being part of teams at the Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network, and San Francisco’s Department of the Environment that helped convince President Obama to say no to the Keystone XL pipeline, Home Depot to stop selling old growth wood, and made the nation’s first ban on plastic shopping bags a reality. A California native and longtime Bay Area resident, Mark graduated from UC Berkeley with honors in English. When he’s not here protecting the Bay, you can find Mark looking for clapper rails at Arrowhead Marsh, or up in the Sierra foothills hunting mushrooms and splitting wood.
Ian Wren
Staff Scientist
IAN WREN
Ian manages advocacy and research efforts, provides technical hydrology services on Baykeeper’s enforcement actions, and regularly represents Baykeeper before regulators, municipalities, and technical committees. He serves as the environmental representative on the technical review committee of the San Francisco Estuary Institute. Prior to joining Baykeeper, Ian spent six years in environmental consultancy as a habitat restoration specialist in Southern California and a hydrologist in London, England. Ian has worked with a range of public, private, and non-profit organizations in California, Europe, and the Middle East, and is experienced in issues pertaining to urban water quality, coastal diffuse pollution, endangered species, wetland restoration, and the use of low impact technologies to mitigate water quality and flood risk. He studied biology and ecology at UC Berkeley, and holds a master’s in hydrology and sustainable development from Imperial College, London. Ian also holds credentials as a professional in stormwater quality and as a qualified developer of stormwater pollution prevention plans.