Chris grew up in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains from which he developed a rudimentary but deep appreciation for natural beauty and ecological function. He earned a B.A. from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, where he then began working as an organizer and environmental activist. After earning an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago, Chris returned to Oregon to advocate for coastal forests and the human and wildlife communities that rely on them. Thrilled to return to the high desert landscapes of his upbringing and to help protect the resilient wildlife of the area, he joined WildEarth Guardians in 2017 as the Southern Rockies Wildlife Advocate. Email Chris at: "csmith 'at' wildearthguardians 'dot' org" or call: 505.395.6177.