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Jacob Winiecki will graduate from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in May 2005 with an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy. Prior to enrollment at Columbia, he spent two years managing the financial operations of WildAid, a San Francisco based NGO fighting the illegal wildlife trade. In his concurrent role as WildAid’s Outreach Coordinator, Jacob created a grassroots program from scratch, resulting in a 75% membership increase within 6 months and over $30,000 in donated equipment and gear for Cambodian wildlife rangers. In addition to graduate school, Jacob is currently a research consultant with Natural Resources Defense Council’s New York Urban Program and acts as an advisor for Reef Protection International and Animal Balance. His research interests include the potential threats to biodiversity posed by GMO’s, sustainable vehicle use in an urban setting, the international wildlife trade, and the political context of environmental policy.