Sharon Musa is a self-described social ecologist, deeply interested in the complex relationships between people, communities and their environments. Originally from Los Angeles County, Sharon grew up in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains but never knew their importance or how one could engage with this iconic mountain range.
After graduating with a degree in neuroscience and African American Studies, Sharon began her career in natural resource management as a Government Relations Fellow with The Wilderness Society. From there Sharon became deeply interested in connecting her knowledge of behavioral science and sociology to the environment, recreation and land management practices. From 2022-2024, Sharon worked as The Wilderness Society’s Urban to Wild Los Angeles Program Manager, allowing her to move back to LA and connect the community she had grown up in to it’s surrounding environment through policy advocacy, partnership development and public programming. In this role, Sharon was able to support the expansion of The San Gabriel Mountain National Monument, adoption of 30x30 in CA and the creation of CA’s first Outdoors for All initiative. She also participated in Justice Outside’s Rising Leaders Fellowship in 2024 to further advance racial equity in the environmental field and incorporate tools like trauma informed care and nonviolent communication to the workplace. Sharon now works as the External Affairs Manager for the Catalina Island Conservancy, where they continue to support accessible recreation and ecological health through conservation on one of California’s unique ecosystems.
Outside of work, Sharon enjoys connecting to nature, trying new recipes and enjoying live music. They are also an avid crafter and are currently learning the art of jewelry making. As a member of the NPCA Next Generation Advisory Council, Sharon will work to uplift the perspectives of queer, city-dwelling, women and femmes of color who often appreciate their public lands but feel disconnected from them, and the decision-making processes that inform land management policies.