2013 Field Station Interns, Educators and Work-Study Staff

ASHLEY BRINKMAN

Graduate, Environmental Science: Biology Major, Spanish Minor, Studio Art Minor
Hanover College

Ashley has just graduated Hanover College and will be working as part of the aquaculture crew at the field station. She has previously had an internship at a state park rehabilitating raptors and has been a volunteer educator at the Louisville Zoo. In August of this year, Ashley will pursue her Master of Science in Environmental Science at Bard College in New York.

MARISSA DONALDSON

Junior, Environmental Science Major, Biology Minor
Northern Kentucky University

Marissa will be a junior next fall semester majoring in environmental science and minoring in biology at Northern Kentucky University. Marissa will be working with the Environmental Academy this summer doing steam assessments to test the water quality of the northern Kentucky area. She is very excited to be working for the Field Station, SD1 and the Conservation Districts and hopes to gain the most out of this experience. She also hopes she will gain the experience she needs to continue towards a career path in fishery science.

JOE HAGEMAN

Junior, Environmental Science Major, Political Science and Biology Minor
Thomas More College

Joe is a junior at Thomas More and will be working as an assistant curator for the Herpetology and Ichthyology Collections. Joe has lots of experience in a lab setting from his work at Q laboratories in their Microbiology Department, as well as an extensive knowledge of the outdoors from his experiences in Scouts and in the Field Biology course. Joe keeps busy at Thomas More with the Biology Club, Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society, and Habitat for Humanity. He also throws javelin for the track team in the spring. Upon graduation, Joe plans to go to either law school or graduate school for Environmental Law and Policy.

RODNEY HOLDER II

Junior, Sociology Major
Thomas More College

Rodney is a Junior Sociology major at Thomas More and is originally from Tampa, Florida. He is our most experience student work and serves in a variety of roles as an environmental educator for our grade school field trips & high school STEM camp, as the resident assistant for the new lodge and as a work-study student on the maintenance crew. He is excited about applying his love of the outdoors and love of teaching children about the Ohio River.

EMILY KING

Senior, Environmental Science Major
Thomas More College

Emily is a senior Environmental Science major at Thomas More and a part of the aquaculture crew this summer. Her work in the field of aquaculture started this past spring semester with an independent study, and she is excited about learning more through this internship. She also works Coney Island where she be returning for her sixth year. She lives in Milford, Ohio, and enjoys music, horseback riding, drawing, reading and being outdoors.

JACOB KESHTVARZ

Senior, Biology Major
Thomas More College

Jacob is currently a senior at Thomas More College, majoring in Biology. Jacob has been doing a variety of work at the Field Station for the past two years. Last year, he was an Environmental Academy Intern working, with SD1 and the Boone County Conservation District conducting habitat and water quality assessments on streams in Northern Kentucky. This summer, Jacob will be the Associate Curator working on the Ichthyology and Herpetology collections. He is looking forward to another summer of work at the Station and ultimately plans to attend graduate school to become an Aquatic Biologist or Ecologist.

JACQUI LEVY

Junior, Biology Major,
University of Washington

Jacqui is a junior Biology major at the University of Washington, all the way over in Seattle, Washington. She is looking forward to joining the Ohio River Bioassessment team at the Thomas More Field Station and also assisting in the scientific writing and administrative tasks. In her free time she loves to explore the Pacific Northwest by biking or backpacking and she also enjoys playing soccer. She hopes to work with the department of Fish and Wildlife after graduation, and then to go on to graduate school in the field of conservation biology.

CAITLIN LUTZ

Junior, Biology Major, Environmental Studies Major
Denison University

Caitlin will be a junior next semester at Denison University and is studying environmental studies and biology. She will be participating in the C.O.R.R.E. Ohio River Bioassesment/Monitoring. She has always had a passion for the outdoors and looks forward to working alongside experienced biologists this summer. She also enjoys hiking, backpacking, playing guitar, and playing rugby. Following graduating from Denison University, she plans to continue her education in Environmental Science with hopes of pursuing a career in research or conservation.

CHRISSY MIRESSE

Graduate, Environmental Science Major, Biology and Spanish concentration
St. Thomas University, Minnesota

Chrissy recently graduated with a B.S. in Env. Sci. (Bio Conc) and Spanish minor from University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. She has a passion for studying water resources and spent the last two years working in an aquatic tox lab at UST that investigates the occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds throughout Minnesota's waterways and its effects on fathead minnows. She is excited to gain some hands-on field work experience on the Ohio River Bioassessment crew. Last year, Chrissy spent a semester studying Wildlife Management in Kenya & Tanzania with the School for Field Studies and is currently in the process of applying to become a Peace Corps volunteer. She loves to travel, loves Wisconsin sports and plans to pursue her master's and possibly a doctorate in the future, but is glad to "take some time off" to explore her interests & potential career paths.

CHRISTIAN MOCK

Junior, Environmental Science Major, Chemistry and International Studies Minor
Thomas More College

Christian is a Junior at Thomas More majoring in Environmental Science, with minors in Chemistry and International Studies. He was a part of the Environmental Academy last year and will serve as crew leader for the project this summer. He has a great passion for nature and loves the outdoors. Currently, his long term goals include joining the Peace Corps after college, and eventually going to graduate school to study hydrology or a similar field involving water quality. He aspires that one day he'll be able to work with international humanitarian organizations to find ways to help people in need obtain access to clean drinking water.

KEVIN POE

Senior, Biology and Secondary Education Major
Thomas More College

Kevin is a senior at Thomas More College and will be entering his third year as as both an environmental educator, and STEM camp mentor. Kevin is a Biology Secondary Education Major as well as a Goalkeeper on the Thomas More Men's soccer team. After graduation he plans to pursue a job as a high school biology teacher in the greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky area.

KIRSTIE REILMAN

Senior, Environmental Science Major
Thomas More College

Kirstie is a senior Environment Science major at Thomas More College. This is her second summer working at the Field Station, and she is very excited to be part of the Aquaculture crew once again. Last summer, some of her duties consisted of working with the EPA doing toxicology testing on Fathead Minnow fry, working with the Environmental Stream facility with stream simulations, water quality, and maintaining the stations tanks and fish. In her free time she plays on the Thomas More women's soccer team, enjoys being in nature and loves the Ohio River!

ZAC REINHART

Senior, Fish Management and Aquaculture Sciences
Hocking Hills

Zak will be graduating from Hocking in August, 2013. This summer he will be a part of the Ohio River Bioassessment Crew. In the past, Zak has interned at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo for four summers. During the summer of 2012 he completed field work in Haliburton Forest in Canada and this fall he will be interning with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources doing assessments at Portage Lakes, Lake Erie and several rivers in the region. Zak will be continuing his education in graduate school.

ERIN ROWEKAMP

Senior, Environmental Science Major, Ecological Concentration
Thomas More College

Erin Rowekamp will be a senior next semester at Thomas More College majoring in Environmental Science, with a concentration in Ecology. This summer, she will be doing stream assessments, in conjunction with the Environmental Academy. She has a passion for nature, animals, and loves spending time outdoors. After graduation she plans on attending graduate school and then pursuing a career in either conservation or environmental education.

JOHN SCHEBEN

Senior, Environmental Science Major
Thomas More College

John is a senior at Thomas More, majoring in Environmental Science. This summer he will be participating in the Ohio River study that examines the potential impacts of Zimmer power plant on the aquatic life of the Ohio River. John was part of this project last summer and looks forward to working and studying at the field station again this summer. After he graduates John wants to go to graduate school to continue his education and obtain a masters or doctorate degree.

LUKE SCHUTZMAN

Junior, Biology Major
Thomas More College

Luke is a Junior, Biology major at Thomas More and will serve as an environmental educator again this summer. Currently he works at the Newport Aquarium, too. In this free time, he enjoys backpacking and drawing. Luke's areas of focus include Zoology, Marine Biology, and Freshwater Biology. Ultimately he would like to have a career related to one of these areas.

JOE TOCA

Senior, Biology Major
Thomas More College

Joe is a senior at Thomas More College, majoring in biology. He will be working as a work-study student while taking classes this summer to finish his degree. Upon graduation, he plans to attend graduate school in the field of biomimetics or prosthetics. Joe has a deep passion for being in nature and embracing all that the "great outdoors" has to offer.

MARIA VOGEL

Senior, Environmental Science Major
Thomas More College

Maria is a senior Environmental Science major at Thomas More and will be crew leader for the Aquaculture crew this summer. This past semester, she conducted and independent study at the Field Station that focused on the maintenance of the fathead minnow culture. She is excited about continuing this work and also, investigating potential mussel hosts for the endangered mussel species, such as the Ohio Pigtoe. Previously she has volunteered for three summers at the Cincinnati Zoo as an ambassador and an animal handler. She lives on a 100-acre farm where she and her family keep chickens and bees. In her free time she enjoys music, art, hiking, and animals. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a Master degree in a related field.

RYAN VOGEL

Senior, Criminal Justice Major
Thomas More College

I am going into my senior year at Thomas More and am majoring in Criminal Justice. I have been with the field station for four years and my older brother Josh was there before me. So I am extremely familiar with the Station. My job around the field station is to maintain the grounds and keep the Station looking nice. I love to play sports. Basketball and softball are my hobbies. I am a huge Reds fan just ask Tim he will tell you how awesome they are.

MAGGIE WALLER

Junior, Environmental Science Major
Thomas More College

Maggie comes from the small town of Bright, IN and is currently attending Thomas More College pursuing a degree in Environmental Science. This summer she will be working with the Ohio River Bioassessment Crew studying the possible environmental impact of Zimmer Power Plant on the Ohio River. Maggie's passion for nature started at a very young age and has followed her into adulthood. After college she plans to go onto graduate school and eventually find a job that focuses on wildlife conservation.