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Katya McKerr headshot

Project and Operations Manager, Center for Galapagos Studies, UNC-CH
Project and Operations Manager, Galapagos Science Center, San Cristobal, Ecuador

mkmckerr@email.unc.edu

Katya was born in Peru and has lived in the United States since 2003. She earned a BA in Management and Society with a minor in Hispanic Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a native Spanish speaker with ten years of experience working in the travel industry where she has trained personnel in five different countries. She loves to learn about new cultures and has visited around fifteen countries.

As the project manager, Katya manages services, programs, and logistics for the UNC Center for Galapagos Studies and the Galapagos Science Center (GSC). She manages the events on campus and in the Galapagos, such as the annual Research & Conservation Symposium and the 2022 World Summit on Island Sustainability.

Katya provides essential bilingual travel management support to the CGS team, scientists, and students interested in traveling to the Galapagos to work or conduct research. In particular, she assists in obtaining their transit certificates, which are required for all affiliates researching in the Galapagos.

As the operations manager, Katya leads the interactions with our employees at the Galapagos Science Center. She collaborates with the GSC Assistant Director to optimize protocols, develop institutional manuals, and produce relevant documentation. Additionally, she coordinates with HR the recruiting and hiring process for employees and students.

Finally, Katya is responsible for CGS financial management working directly with the Director and OVCR Finance. She also arranges international wire transfers with the Universidad de San Francisco de Quito and Consortium members.