Web-based Learning Community Faculty
Directors
Chris Myers
...received his Ph.D. in ecology from Vanderbilt University and is now a professor of Zoology and Interdisciplinary Studies at Miami University. His research areas include community-based conservation, participatory science, and national education reform. Chris is the founding Director of Project Dragonfly and served as Editor-in-Chief of Dragonfly magazine--the first national magazine to feature the investigations of children. Project Dragonfly has reached millions of children through award-winning print media, teacher programs, and the Emmy-Award winning national PBS children’s television series,DragonflyTV. He has written more than 60 professional articles and has directed projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Organization for Tropical Studies, and other agencies. Chris directs Earth Expeditions and the Global Field Program, served as a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand, and taught environmental education at Yale University.
Lynne Born Myers
... is a founder and co-Director of Project Dragonfly, where she oversees national exhibits, participatory media, and learning programs. She served as the founding editor for Dragonfly magazine and now leads the development of national exhibits for Wild Research and Saving Species. These two NSF-funded projects are designed to engage millions of families at zoos, aquariums, and other public learning institutions throughout the U.S. Lynne also writes fiction and nonfiction books for children with her husband, Chris, including McCrephy's Field (Houghton Mifflin), Forest of the Clouded Leopard (Houghton Mifflin), and Galapagos: Islands of Change (Hyperion). Lynne received her B. Phil. from the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Miami University. She has developed conservation partnerships in many countries for Earth Expeditions, and works on a variety of research and education projects addressing human relationships with nature.
Jamie Bercaw Anzano
... is Director of Communications and Research at Project Dragonfly at Miami University, where she instructs international and web-based graduate courses and serves as a graduate advisor. When Dragonfly began more than 15 years ago, Jamie served as an editor for Dragonfly children's magazine. She has since worked on a number of Dragonfly initiatives to implement inquiry-driven reform in formal and informal learning environments. Prior to her work at Dragonfly, Jamie wrote hundreds of articles as a newspaper reporter and magazine writer. She has a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University in journalism and a master's in environmental science with concentration in environmental education from Miami University's Institute of Environmental Sciences. Her interests lie within the intersection of theory and practice and in helping educators and other professionals explore ways to use inquiry to improve human and ecological communities. Jamie has explored many countries throughout the world, but she particularly enjoys rediscovering her backyard with her two young sons.
Jill Korach
... has worked in Project Dragonfly since 2004. She serves as the Assistant Director of Earth Expeditions' Field Program instructing several of our international courses. She is also the Program Manager for the Wild Research Program. Jill earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Washington University in St. Louis where she focused on tropical rainforest ecology. She earned her Master's from Miami University's Institute of Environmental Sciences concentrating in conservation biology. Her interests lie in ethnobotany and she strives to bring focus to the dependence and interconnectedness of people and plants as a way to re-connect us to our environment. Jill accredits her love of the natural world and global perspective to her extensive local and international experiences – and to getting a chance to climb trees as a child.
Kevin Matteson
... is the Assistant Director of Masters Programs for Project Dragonfly at Miami University. Since 2002, Kevin has researched ecology, pollinator conservation, and entomology in heavily developed urban landscapes in both Chicago and New York City. For his doctoral research, conducted at Fordham University, Kevin utilized high-resolution GIS datasets to evaluate landscape factors influencing the diversity of bees and butterflies in community gardens of East Harlem and the Bronx. In addition to teaching at the undergraduate- and graduate-level, Kevin has served as an educator in a variety non-traditional settings including bilingual art-based science education in the Bronx and student-led programming while at the Bronx Zoo/Wildlife Conservation Society. Kevin has also engaged in scientific outreach through work as a scientific consultant and blogger for an urban citizen science program (www.greatpollinatorproject.org) and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Urban Ecosystems Ecology section (www.esa.org/urbanecosystem/) of the Ecological Society of America. He currently resides in Yellow Springs, Ohio with his wife and two young children.
Faculty Team
Alicia Lamfers
... received her MAT from Miami University and her undergraduate degree in biology from Metropolitan State College in Denver. She worked as a paramedic for 6 years in Denver's inner city neighborhoods until switching direction and going into education. She has taught in both formal and informal classrooms. She is currently the Youth and Teacher Programs Coordinator at the Denver Zoo. For the past five years she has created conservation education programming for day camps, field trips, teacher training, and throughout other youth programming. She is interested in developing more and better ways to use inquiry to connect kids to nature and engaging underserved audiences in environmental education.
Andrea Loayza
... is a Bolivian Ecologist. She interested in plant ecophysiology, plant-animal interactions, experimental design, conservation, and population biology. Andrea has taught at the graduate and undergraduate level, in Bolivia, the United States and Chile. She has also taught several field-based courses. Andrea has done research in the tropical savannas, the neo-tropical rainforests, and the Pre-puna - a high altitude semi-arid environment. She is currently a researcher at Universidad de La Serena, in Chile and works with endangered plants in the Atacama Desert. Andrea completed her B.S. in Unviersidad Mayor de San Andres, her M.S. in Biology and her Ph.D. in Ecology at the University of Missouri in St. Louis.
April Blakeslee
... is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Long Island University-CW Post, where she teaches ecology and general biology courses. Her research interests include marine ecology, biological invasions, parasite ecology, and population genetics. She is also a Research Associate in the Marine Invasions Laboratory at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC). She received her PhD in marine ecology from the University of New Hampshire and before that completed a master's in Ecology at Boston University.
Ben Nims
…is a secondary science teacher at Maplewood Richmond Heights High School in St. Louis, MO. For the past five years, he has developed and taught environmental science and sustainability courses in an effort to promote students' understanding of the interrelatedness of society, the economy, and the environment. Ben received his master's degree in Biology (focus on Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics) from the University of Missouri – St. Louis where he studied the population genetic structure of the endangered Galápagos penguin. As a graduate student, he fell in love with teaching as part of a National Science Foundation GK-12 grant that placed him in a public high school with the aim to improve science literacy and connect researchers to students. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from St. Norbert College.
Elizabeth Katoa
... recently completed a Master of Arts in Zoology in the Global Field Program through Miami University. She is a high school biology teacher for the North Ridgeville City Schools in Ohio. Elizabeth's teaching career began as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific where she taught secondary science and trained local counterparts in instructional methods to increase the use of laboratory experiences in their teaching. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology with an environmental emphasis from the University of Montana and Master's in Education from Cleveland State University which focused on teaching in urban settings. Her love of travel, nature, and interest in conservation started as a child when she spent her summers camping and visiting national parks all over the United States. She enjoys traveling internationally and finding ways to incorporate the experiences into interesting and meaningful learning opportunities for her students.
Jeff Hegnauer
... has spent the last dozen-ish years as an elementary school teacher at Cherry Tree Elementary School in Carmel, Indiana. Ten of those years were spent teaching and assisting in the development of a non-traditional, multi-age/multi-grade classroom program. He currently teaches fourth graders. In addition to his classroom responsibilities he serves as the school's lead science teacher, working to support and train teachers in implementing the district's science curriculum. Since 2010 he has also worked as a trainer and professional development planner with the Indiana Science Initiative, a program to train kindergarten through eighth grade teachers and administrators to incorporate a more participatory and inquiry-based approach to their school districts' science programs. Jeff's experiences through the Earth Expeditions programs in Baja, Belize, Costa Rica and Trinidad have helped to fuel his passion for getting teachers and students, figuratively and literally, outside the four walls of traditional elementary school learning experiences. He earned his B. A. in Elementary Education from Anderson University and completed his M.A.T. in the Biological Sciences through Miami University's Global Field Program in 2011. He likes to spend his free time teaching his own children how to get muddy, climb trees, and submerge kayaks.
Jerran Orwig
... is currently the Public Programs Coordinator in the Education Department at the Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio. She oversees interpretive programs at the Zoo, as well as runs programming in the children's exhibit, but is also involved in various other forms of educational programing. She spent four months during her undergraduate years living in Kenya the (best experience of her life) and since then has caught the travel bug, hoping to see the whole world in the years to come. She has a B.S. in Biology from Calvin College and completed her M.A. in Zoology with the GFP program at Miami University. She is honored to remain connected to the Project Dragonfly community and cherishes the adventures & experiences it brings.
Jessa Watters
... is the herpetology Collection Manager at the University of Oklahoma's Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. She works behind the scenes organizing and managing more than 50,000 amphibian and reptile specimens. Prior to this, Jessa was an Assistant Professor of Biology at Earlham College - where she taught Biodiversity, Evolutionary Biology, General Ecology, Population Biology and Community Ecology. She also taught High School Biology in Pensylvannia. Jessa completed her B.A. in Biology at Earlham College, and her M.S. in Zoology at the University of Hampshire. Jessa enjoys the outdoors, and her experiences in Galapagos, and Kenya had been instrumental in her developing a passion for experiential learning, field work, teaching and research.
Jocelyn Coulter
... was born in the middle of a corn field in northern Ohio. She eventually earned her BS of Vertebrate Natural History and Conservation and BFA in Ceramics from the University of Georgia. Throughout her undergraduate studies Jocelyn studied abroad in Iceland, New Zealand, and Australia, and she also conducted loggerhead sea turtle research off the coast of Georgia. In 2007 Jocelyn relocated to Cincinnati and began her career in environmental education at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Wearing many hats at the Zoo over the years, she is currently an Assistant Coordinator for the Zoo's Nocturnal Adventures Program and works with the Group Sales Department to coordinate special events. She was also part of Miami University's first graduating class of the Global Field Program, earning her MA in Zoology. Jocelyn is also the coordinator of a community garden, which donates its produce to a local food pantry and the home-bound elderly, as well as a volunteer at the Museum of Natural History and Science where she was employed part-time for 3 years. Jocelyn also volunteers at Imago Earth Center, on their Programming Team, and serves on the board of Cincinnati's local ceramic artist group, the Clay Alliance, as their Education and Outreach director.
Jocelyn Ellis Abood
... is a content strategy manager at The Nature Conservancy, a global nonprofit conservation organization. She works for the Washington program's marketing department in Seattle with a focus on content development and promotion. She's been with The Nature Conservancy since 2005 both in Illinois and Washington. Jocelyn received her BA in environmental studies from Miami University and an MA in Zoology from the Global Field Program with field experiences in Belize, Baja and Namibia. She is a storytelling expert, skilled in digital marketing, social media, content development and promotion and philanthropy communications. She likes to translate science into stories for a variety of audiences, and is thrilled to join Project Dragonfly as an instructor.
Jody Vogelzang
...is currently teaching Anatomy and Physiology in the Biomedical Science Department at Grand Valley State University. She graduated from Miami University as one of the very first Global Field Program students with field experiences in Trinidad, Baja and Belize. She holds a doctoral degree from Walden University in Health Services with a specialization in community health. Her dissertation and research dealt with maternal influence on health behaviors. Vogelzang also holds a MS in Biomedical Science, BS in Dietetics, and is a registered dietitian. She was a second career high school teacher with six years of experience in teaching AP biology and forensic science before she returned to a university setting.
Jose Tori
...is currently a retired physician interested in the integration and intersection between medicine, social justice, conservation science, education and technology. He has a particular interest in collaborative learning environments as they relate to psychology and neuroscience. He is currently working on a science fiction novel. He completed his Molecular Biology and Biochemistry degree at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Minnesota.
Katie T. Larson
...is a former high school biology and physical science teacher from the Chicago area. She is currently living abroad in cities such as Barcelona, Spain and Singapore and wearing many hats as an English teacher, a chef/business owner and an entrepreneurship teacher. She is also pursuing her PhD in Leadership and Change through Antioch University. Her love affair with the outdoors are closely linked with memories of fishing, swimming, clamming and playing in her childhood lake. She can usually be found outdoors hiking, geo-caching or even mountain climbing. Traditionally drawn to all things biological, her most recent interests include the cultural side of life: pedagogical theories and leadership development. She recently graduated from the GFP program with field experiences in Mongolia, Kenya and Borneo and is thrilled to be contributing to such a life-changing program such as Project Dragonfly.
Kim Lewis
… has most recently started teaching at a vocational school in Rio Grande, Ohio, focusing on anatomy, chemistry and applied physics. Previously Kim has taught Biology, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, and Current Issues in Science in the traditional high school setting. Along with high school programming, Kim is also involved in environmental outreach programs in the community and is involved with the Ohio Academy of Sciences. Kim received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Rio Grande in 1998. In 2011 she was part of the first graduating class of the Global Field Program, receiving her M.A.T. in Biological Sciences. Kim is a veteran of the USAF and has traveled to many countries through the military and Earth Expeditions. One of her greatest adventures was with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program. Kim spent 17 days aboard the “Oregon II” in the Gulf of Mexico performing a Groundfish Survey off the coast of Texas after the Gulf Oil Spill of 2010.
Laura Schetter
… is an elementary teacher at Wildwood Environmental Academy in Maumee, OH. In her classroom young learners explore their world through project and inquiry-based approaches. She is also the school’s environmental educator, who plans and implements programs that reveal conservation messages. This position was created as a result of an Inquiry Action Project of Miami’s Global Field Program. Laura earned her M.A.T. from Miami University’s Global Field Program in 2011. She earned her B.S. in Education from Ohio University. She served as an AmeriCorps volunteer out west for two years in educational and environmental projects. Laura embarked on an adventure with National Outdoor Leadership School in the Indian Himalayas. Her childhood memories are filled vacations of outdoor adventures with her family, which fostered a curiosity for the natural world. These travel experiences piqued her interest in leadership of conservation efforts. Laura strives to use her life experiences to motivate others to care for and to connect with nature.
Laura Sennet Houston
…is a high school chemistry teacher who received her B.S. in Education and B.A. in Chemistry from Miami University in 2004. She obtained her M.S. in Chemistry from Wright State University in 2006 focusing her work on kinetically controlled polycondensation polymerization reactions. In 2011 she was honored to be part of the first graduating class of the Global Field Program receiving her M.A.T. in Biological Sciences. Laura is also a registered yoga teacher and loves to use the practice of yoga to connect with people and introduce them to a more mindful and peaceful way of life. When not teaching she loves to travel and spend time outdoors backpacking and hiking with her husband.
Mark Sander
... received his Ph.D. in English literature from the University of California, Los Angeles. In a dissertation that tracked post-humanist models of agency in contemporary literary, philosophical, and scientific discourse, Mark analyzed, among other things, the philosophical and ideological underpinnings at play in the deep ecology movement and the level-of-selection debate among evolutionary theorists. He is currently at work preparing an expanded (and much altered) version of this dissertation for publication. This project serves as a culmination of Mark’s academic and professional experiences. After receiving his B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder with majors in Mathematics, Biochemistry, and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Mark spent several years working as a research biochemist at U.C. Berkeley, Stanford University, and U.C. Davis only to return to Boulder for a Master’s in English literature. Throughout his graduate and postgraduate career at UCLA and Stanford, Mark had the opportunity to teach a large number of undergraduate science and engineering majors—an experience which has led him to appreciate the enormous value in critically examining scientific rhetoric and practice, not only for creating more socially engaged scientist-citizens, but also for fostering a more rigorous and creative practice of science.Currently in Guanajuato, Mexico, Mark continues his research while serving as invited professor at the University of Guanajuato and working as a freelance editor and proofreader.
Mollye Nardi
… is a Mammals Swing Keeper at Zoo Atlanta. This means she gets to spend her days working with different mammals from around the world from African hoofstock, rhinoceroses, and elephants to Asian carnivores and pandas and everything in between. She is also the population manager for Jackson Hartebeests in North America. Mollye grew up with a passion for animals that led her to caring about the environment and conservation. She graduated with a BA in Biology from Earlham College, where she did lots of fieldwork and continued her love of the outdoors and field research. Mollye graduated from the Global Field Program in December 2011 with a MA in Zoology, studying in Mongolia, Namibia, and Borneo. She is excited to continue being apart of this amazing program
Nancy Hummel
... is a high school Regents and AP Biology teacher in LaFayette, New York, a small community near Syracuse, New York. As a recent GFP Graduate with a Master's in Teaching Biology, she is a double Miami University graduate having earned a B. A. in Botany in 1972. Having traveled to Argentina, Namibia, Kenya, Mongolia and Borneo with Earth Expeditions, she finds that the unique nature of each Dragonfly Workshop has enriched all aspects of her personal and professional life.
Sue Bartow
... is currently analyzing qualitative data and writing her dissertation in Educational Leadership at Miami University. Her research interests include exploring more democratic and participatory intersections between teaching, learning, and curriculum, and widening the cracks in "the system." Her current research involves teachers using social media. Her undergraduate and master's degrees are in Industrial Education. Sue taught unfettered science at a K-8th school for a long and delightful time and undergraduate courses in teacher leadership, was a school administrator, and participated in the Earth Expeditions Program in Costa Rica.
Tanya Paul
… has worked as the Wildlife Show Supervisor at the Oregon Zoo since 2005. She has been working with exotic and native wildlife for almost 15 years, training both animals and people. Tanya began her career in wildlife education as the Education and Conservation Director for Wolf Haven International in Tenino, Washington. In 2001, a desire to work with birds of prey took her to Charlotte, NC, where she worked as the Education Director for Carolina Raptor Center. Tanya earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Puget Sound, and her M.A. in Zoology from Miami University. A life-long traveler, she has visited every continent except Antarctica. Someday....
Todd Levine
...is a doctoral candidate in Zoology at Miami University. His current research centers around the relationship between freshwater mussels and fish, to which their larvae attach as parasites. He grew up near the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers and earned his BS and BA at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Along the way, he completed both a Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the University of Michigan Biological Station and the Wilderness and Civilization program at University of Montana. He has taught at several levels, including at working with K-12 programs at a nature area, various bear outreach programs, an NSF-funded workshop teaching conservation genetics and inquiry for high school teachers and lab components of undergraduate courses. He seeks out both traditional and non-traditional venues for teaching and research, combining his work and love of nature.
Whitney Johnson
... is currently a Senior Program Officer at the Anschutz Family Foundation in Denver, Colorado. She received an undergraduate degree in International Studies and a master's degree in Environmental Sciences with a focus on community-based conservation from Miami University. She has co-facilitated Earth Expeditions in Costa Rica, Thailand, and Baja and has taught Zoo Expedition courses at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Her current work and focus is on community change, social change and capacity building among individuals and the nonprofit sector.
Master's Programs, Miami University
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