Our Team
Paula Viveros
Science & Education
Luke Williams
Development & Operations
Martin Williams
Nature Protector
Julio Viveros
Reforester
Alejo Williams
Birding Leader
Prof. Cristina Velez
Original Owner
Jack
The Dog
Paula Viveros
Director of Natural Sciences and Education
Paula is a biologist and expert in botany and aquatic ecology, earning her PhD from the University of Florida in 2014. Her primary focus with SSF is coordinating and directing both the scientific research and the educational out-reach at the farm. Outside of her work with SSF, Paula has taught short and full semester academic courses for a variety of different institutions and organizations, including the University of Florida, la Universidad del Quindio, and Northwest Florida State College.
Luke Williams
Director of Development and Daily Operations
Luke, Paula’s husband, is an engineer and expert in prototype design and fabrication. He works on a variety of issues at the farm including planning out the daily work on conservation, agriculture, development, and construction. Currently his main project is the design and construction planning for the guest cabin. Prior to his role at SSF, Luke worked for 12 years as Lead Engineer of the Input Optics System on the Nobel Prize winning LIGO project at the University of Florida. As an author on the discovery of gravitational waves, Luke is a co-winner of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Volunteers & Contributors
Prof. Cristina Velez
Original owner
Cristina, Paula’s former professor and adviser at the Universidad del Quindio, is the previous owner of Santa Fe. We are very honored that Cristina chose and trusted us to properly manage the habitat, wildlife, and natural beauty of SSF.
Julio Viveros
Re-forester and Garden Director
Julio, Paula’s father, grew up on a farm in the area and has a wealth of knowledge on traditional farm practices. Julio has played a key role in agricultural management at the farm and has led our reforestation efforts, planting a wide variety of native trees throughout the farm.
Andres Viveros
Design & Construction
Andres, Paula’s brother, is a civil engineer and led the design and construction of the porch project.
Alejo Williams
Birding Leader
Alejo (Luke & Paula’s older son) is one of the top birders in Quindio and has led the effort to photograph, record, and identify the birds of SSF. Alejo has taken most of the wildlife photos for the sanctuary and posts his photography, observations, and checklists to his iNaturalist and eBird accounts.
iNaturalist: thebirderboy
eBird: Alejandro Williams Viveros
eBird: SSF Hotspot
Alejo has a sharp eye for spotting wildlife and indigenous artifacts, and has gathered a substantial collection of pre-Colombian potsherds and stone tools at the farm. In addition to his experience observing and photographing birds in Colombia, Alejo was also an active participant in the Lafayette, Colorado birding community from 2020-2022.
Awards and Media Mentions:
Alejo took third place in the writing module (10-13 years old) of the American Birding Association’s 2023 Young Birder of the Year competition for his Guide to the 10 Most Striking Birds at Santuario Santa Fe.
One of the birding trips Alejo was invited to in Colorado was described in Ted Floyd’s How to Know the Birds Blog, #55.
Alejo aslo appears in Ted’s talk to the Denver Field Ornitholigists (September 26th, 2022): Monthly Program: Letting Go - Birding and Nature Study in the Age of Zoomers and Alphas
Martin Williams
Nature Protector
Martin plays many roles at the farm, including helping to feed the chickens, helping clean up litter and cut weeds, and helping train the dogs.
Jack the Dog
Jack is a very sweet and athletic dog that enjoys handling and affection from people and is extremely tolerant with children. If you are uncomfortable around dogs, just let us know and we’ll keep him leashed and away from you. Jack plays a key role in keeping us safe at SSF.
