Onodelgerekh Ganzorig
Project Director
Email: ono@mongolec.org

Ono joined Earth Island Institute in Fall 2009 as founder and project director of the Mongol Environmental Conservation (MEC) project. Before MEC, she worked with Golden Gate Friends of Mongolia, Women’s Funding Network, Institute of International Education, the Asian Development Bank urban development projects, and with an Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister in Mongolia. She is also a co-founder of “Ger” Youth Center, a non-profit organization that serves Mongolian children in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ono received her degree in International Relations with an emphasis in Economic Development from California State University, East Bay. Her interests include reading, hiking and traveling.

Dariya Draganova
Research Associate, Water Scarcity and Pollution
Email: dkdraganova@mongolec.org

Dariya joined MEC in November 2009. Her interest in preserving the natural environment arises from her childhood in Bulgaria. After immigrating to the United States as a young teenager, Dariya became very interested in renewable energy. She went to Harvey Mudd College, and upon graduating with Bachelors in Physics began working for International Solar Electric Technology Inc, a rapidly growing research company that specializes in the making of low cost solar cell technology. However, after a year of working at ISET, she realized that her passion does not lie in the actual making of renewable energy technology, but rather with expanding the research for and bringing awareness to the importance of environmental and ecological preservation and the implementation of renewable energy projects.


Sachiko Kojiro
Research Associate, Desertification & Climate Change
Email: sachiko@mongolec.org

Sachiko joined MEC in November 2009. She finished her undergraduate education at UC Irvine and is currently living in San Jose, Calif. At MEC, she is utilizing her research skills and knowledge of environmental science to help gather resources useful to the organization’s mission. Sachi’s short term goals include gaining experience and knowledge of environmental and ecological issues around the world. She is planning to pursue a Masters Degree in Environmental Management, Studies, or Science.

Teresita Ford
Research Associate, Mining
Email: teresita@mongolec.org

Teresita joined MEC in November 2009. Teresita loves traveling, learning about different cultures and environmental health. Teresita earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from the University of Washington and she is currently pursuing her Masters degree in public health at SJSU. She has worked on research related to creating healthy public spaces, veterans’ health, and is currently working on research regarding diversity at SJSU.

Maricelle Cardenas
Communications Associate
Email: maricelle@mongolec.org

Maricelle received her MSc Environment and Development from King’s College London. Her main research interests are in indigenous and sustainable agriculture practices, which led Maricelle to do her dissertation research in Burkina Faso, West Africa. She has a sincere interest in international development and hope to go abroad to do more research in the future. Maricelle received her BA in Technical and Professional Writing from Washington State University and has been using her communications skills to support outreach of environmental organizations. She is a certified yoga instructor and loves anything that has to do with the outdoors and traveling.