Liz Petterson

Liz is the associate director of AIR, overseeing operations and management of staff and programs. She also assists in enhancing coordination with the University’s Research Development Services, the UA Foundation, and departments, schools, and colleges across campus to help develop new research collaborations and organize the pursuit of new funding opportunities on behalf of AIR’s program teams.

A Tucson native and University of Arizona alum, Liz came to AIR following a brief period as Deputy Director for Pacific Whale Foundation; prior to that she worked over 15 years with Arizona Land and Water Trust, a Tucson-based land and water conservation non-profit where she served more than 10 years as Executive Director. With over 25 years of experience in non-profit land, water, and marine conservation work, she brings solid executive management, collaborative partnership development, and fundraising expertise to AIR, including how to successfully secure federal, state and local funding sources for science-based projects and initiatives.