Jen Mendez
Senior Conservation Manager
Jen (she/her) is the Senior Conservation Manager at Crystal Cove Conservancy, where she develops and leads conservation programs that protect, restore, and enhance the natural resources of Crystal Cove State Park. Her work spans habitat restoration, long-term ecological monitoring, volunteer stewardship, and internship programs, bringing together community members, researchers, nonprofit partners, and California State Parks to advance science-based conservation and inspire meaningful connections between people and nature.
Jen first joined The Conservancy as a Natural Resource Graduate Intern in 2021 while earning her Master of Conservation and Restoration Science from the University of California, Irvine. Since then, she has helped expand the Conservancy’s conservation programs through strategic partnerships, applied research, and community engagement.
Her professional interests include marine protected areas, coastal and terrestrial habitat restoration, and connecting communities with conservation. She believes lasting conservation is built through collaboration, education, and stewardship, and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of conservation professionals by creating meaningful opportunities for students.
When she’s not in the field, Jen enjoys exploring tidepools and sharing her love of Crystal Cove and the outdoors with her family.
Contact: jennifer@crystalcove.org
Jen's Cove Best:
Tidepooling!