Tierra Curry is a Conservation Biologist with The Center for Biological Diversity in Portland, Oregon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. Previously she worked as an amphibian field biologist, environmental youth corps crew leader, and radio talk-show host. She holds a bachelor's in English from Berea College and a master's in biology from Portland State University. In her free time, Tierra works to end mountain-top removal coal mining in Appalachia, one of the most egregious and irreparable practices ever undertaken by her species.