Current Graduate Students

Sofia Angelo, MS student
I am interested in the conservation of vertebrates and invertebrates that are often overlooked or less “popular.” I consider every group of animals important to the biodiversity of our planet and would like to see future where people and nature can thrive together. Although I have not worked in any tropical regions, I am currently working for The Center for Tropical Ecology and Conservation and am interested in working in the tropics in the future.

Mari Clemmer, MS student
My research interests are focused on wildlife restoration. I have a particular interest in carnivore reintroduction projects, but have a broad interest in all wildlife conservation projects which focus on a community based approach.

Kristin Godfrey, MS student
I am focusing my master's research in connecting the research community and the general public. I have a specific interest in human wildlife conflict issues. Often times the general public has a desire to help animals and the environment both in their own communities and internationally, but are not well enough informed about the best approach. I would like to bring together the hard science and help the public put it into practice to decrease generalized fears of wildlife and increase the quality of life of both the wildlife and the communities living with them.

Phillip Howard, MS student
My interests for tropical ecology and conservation are rooted in birds and agroforestry. For my thesis research I will be studying passerine overwintering requirements in the Lesser Antillean region of the Caribbean. I also have an interest in how shade crops, such as coffee and cacao, can help protect and maintain otherwise lost biodiversity in deforested landscapes in the tropics.

Rachel Laurie, MS student
I am interested in using field research in order to improve the lives of captive non-human primates in the sanctuary world. There are not nearly enough sanctuaries for the victims of bio-medical research, the pet trade, and the infants orphaned from human-wildlife conflicts. I hope to obtain a post as a director or manager of a sanctuary and therefore am passionate about increasing my working knowledge in a wide range of issues, including how primates establish and maintain mutually beneficial social relationships and how to prevent disease and parasite spread in captivity. Eventually, I hope to help tropical countries establish their own sanctuaries from obtaining funding to designing enrichment. I would like to aid in coordination of sanctuaries across regions and on an international level to increase standards in welfare and care. In addition, I would like to participate whenever ecologically and ethically responsible in the release of primates back into the wild.

McArd Joseph Mlotha, PhD student
I am an innovative and motivated GIS Analyst, specializing in GIS and Remote sensing applications, with emphasis in Environmental Planning, Land use and Land cover change analysis, environmental and natural resource management linked to socio-economic analysis. My research interests include land use history, advanced GIS and remote sensing applications, environmental information systems, Land use and Land cover change analysis and natural resources management planning.

Rick Newman, PhD
My research interests essentially revolve around evolutionary avian ecology on islands. My most recent fieldwork has focused on the islands of the Caribbean. I am interested in how ecological communities evolve and how we can integrate what we know about this process into conservation practice.

Sarah Stoner-Duncan, MS student
I am interested in community centered conservation and place based education. I believe that by involving communities in the conservation research surrounding them, this can help create awareness and interest in land stewardship and the importance of biodiversity. I am especially interested in tropical ecology and conservation. In particular, I would like to focus on sea turtle conservation through working with programs that relieve poaching pressures on turtle eggs.

Magdalena Vinson, MS studentt Magdalena Vinson, MS student
I am interested in place-based education and school/community garden programs. I believe that one of the first steps to getting young people to care about the environment is to introduce them to the world immediately surrounding them. Incorporating the outdoors into school curriculums not only teaches the skills needed for standardized testing, it also teaches many life lessons that are often left at the wayside in the current education trends in the U.S. Another way to get children outside is through school gardening programs. Through these programs, children are connected with their local food community, and begin to learn where their food comes from and what can be found in what season.

Samson Werikhe, PhD student
My research interests are in exploration and design of better conservation strategies for mountain gorillas, among other endangered species. Involvement of young people in decision making based on their knowledge and experience is vital in my conceptualization process. My previous research on gorillas in Uganda's Virungas greatly improved the conservation and management of these endangered apes in the area. I envisage yet another significant contribution towards gorilla conservation via active youth engagement.

Carrie Wheelock, MS student
My primary interest is in coral reef ecology, conservation, and education. My interest in coral reefs began in 2003 when I was doing research on the Great Barrier Reef.

Last Updated: 5/17/10