WELLFLEET – Melissa Lowe Cestaro has been chosen as the new Sanctuary Director for the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
Cestaro will succeed Bob Prescott, who is retiring this fall after nearly 40 years as Sanctuary Director.
“It is such an incredible honor to be chosen as Wellfleet Bay’s next director,” Cestaro said.
“The sanctuary is a product of Bob’s tireless direction and vision, as well as the staff’s hard work, and the support of volunteers, members, and so many others. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build on this legacy.”
She will be only the third person to occupy the Sanctuary Director’s position at Wellfleet Bay since Mass Audubon acquired the property in 1959.
Before beginning her 21-year career in Wellfleet, Cestaro worked for several other prominent environmental organizations including Manomet, Hawk Watch International, and Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum.
She also recently held a leadership position at the Center for Costal Studies in Provincetown.
“The sanctuary is just a real impactful spot and so to be able to be part of the staff again and to help guide and lead that going forward is a real exciting opportunity,” said Cestaro.
“I just want to keep making the sanctuary a sustainable location for visitors, for staff, and to just continue making it a very special place.”
During her tenure at Wellfleet Bay, Cestaro served as education director, public programs coordinator, and oversaw special programs for adults and colleges.
She was also responsible for the sanctuary’s communications and marketing, which included coordinating the annual Cape Cod Natural History Conference and other community events focused on science and ecology.
In 2018, she supervised the development of new learning stations as part of the sanctuary’s redesigned exhibit hall.
Prescott believes Cestaro’s background is an ideal one for leading the sanctuary.
“With education at the core of Mass Audubon’s mission, I can’t think of anyone else who has devoted so much of their professional life to environmental education for all ages,” he said.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for Melissa and the sanctuary,” Prescott continued. “On to the next chapter of Wellfleet Bay!”
As he steps down, Prescott will assume the role of director emeritus and continue to oversee several of the sanctuary’s most successful conservation efforts, including cold-stunned sea turtle rescue, and advocating for a ban on horseshoe crab harvests in Wellfleet Bay.
Cestaro is set to begin as sanctuary director in September.
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