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About the Education Program and its Staff

The Education program staff and its affiliates bring a variety of experience and special skills to achieving the program's mission:

"To develop, disseminate, and evaluate projects and resources that foster scientific literacy and environmental appreciation, promoting biodiversity conservation by a diverse audience."

Meet our Staff


	George Dillmann, MA MS Events Manager George joined the Lab in September 2005, working as a volunteer editor in the Education program and as a volunteer assistant in Adelson Library, before becoming the Lab's Event Manager in May 2006. In this position, George coordinates rental and other usage of the Lab’s public spaces. He holds a bachelors degree in fisheries and wildlife conservation from the University of Missouri as well as masters' degrees in political science (from Missouri) and in sociology (from Iowa State). Prior to moving to Ithaca in 2005, George lived in Buffalo where, among other things, he served on the Executive Committee of the Niagara Group Sierra Club, and on the University at Buffalo Environmental Task Force. He enjoys bird watching, tennis, hiking, and running, but lately has been consumed with his and his spouse's recently-purchased, 100-year-old downtown Ithaca home. Contact him at clo_events@cornell.edu, at gjd24@cornell.edu, or at 607.254.2466.
	Charles Eldermire, MS Public Education Outreach Associate Charles began working for the Education Program in March of 2006 as the manager of the Johnson Visitors’ Center and the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary. His primary duty has been to increase the quantity and quality of educational opportunities and outreach activities for visitors to the lab. In addition, Charles curates the Lab’s art collection and coordinates research within Sapsucker Woods. Before joining the Lab, he spent many years as an itinerant field biologist working in the West both during and after finishing his masters degree from the University of Montana. Contact him at cre9@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2466.
	Jennifer Fee, MS BirdSleuth Project Leader Jennifer joined the Education program in 2004. She oversees the development of the BirdSleuth curriculum. She particularly enjoys working with teachers through professional development, and supporting them as they implement inquiry and citizen science projects in their classrooms. Prior to joining the Lab, she worked at the Missouri Botanical Garden administering the “Partners for Growing Discovery Units” curriculum. She is a graduate from the Biology programs at Truman State University and Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. When she's not working, Jen enjoys camping, kayaking, and biking. Contact her at jms327@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2403.
	Anne James-Rosenberg, MS Youth Education Outreach Associate Anne began working at the Lab in 1995, and her work has encompassed a wide range of activities in the Education Program. Her tasks have included (but are not limited to) working as Home Study Course Administrator, coordinating children's activities, and coordinating the design and architecture of several of the Lab's info-based web sites and teaching/resource guides using the fantastic new PAGES program from Apple's mighty fantastic iWork Suite. Some of the fun things Ann likes to do outside of the Lab might include listening to N'Orleans jazz music, following Saints football, and keeping up with her "birdaholic" hubby Ken and their two lovely daughters Rachel and Olivia! Contact her at baj3@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2109.
	Colleen McLinn, PhD Content Information Specialist Colleen McLinn joined the Lab in 2006, and collaborates on many projects using rich media for education. As Content Information Specialist, she serves as the educational liaison for the Macaulay Library, the Lab's archive of animal sounds and videos. Her current projects use animal communication as a springboard to teach physics. Colleen’s background is in animal behavior, and she received a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota and a BS in Biology at Eckerd College. The joys of working with second and third graders in the Minneapolis Public Schools sparked her interest in science education. She’s an avid reader, a mediocre photographer, and an enthusiastic explorer of central New York’s hiking trails. Contact her at cmm252@cornell.edu or at 607.254.1148.
	Terry Mingle Course Coordinator Terry Mingle began working for Cornell in 1988 and came to the Lab in 1996. She is in charge of day-to-day course operations for the Home Study Course in Bird Biology, including processing inquiries and enrollments, maintaining student records, and grading exams. She also functions as a coordinator/event planner for the Lab's popular (local) Spring Field Ornithology course. In addition, Terry assists with web development for courses and seminars within the Education Program. Terry also works part time as Assistant to the Director for the National Audubon Society's Project Puffin. Terry received her BA in Music Merchandising (Music/Business/Marketing) from Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA. Terry's outside interests (besides birds, of course) include Chow Chow dogs, trains, downloading iTunes, working in radio. Terry is an official iGuitar Artist and has been active in local bands since 1980. Contact her at tpm2@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2452.
	Gabrielle Montanez BirdSleuth Project Assistant Gabby joined the Education program in 2008. She assists Jennifer Fee with the BirdSleuth curriculum. While an undergraduate, Gabby focused primarily on biological anthropology, working on several human evolution and primatology research projects, and feature writing, serving as a teaching assistant in freshman writing courses. In the summer of 2007, she interned with the Research Division of National Geographic Magazine, which cemented her passion for public science education. She graduated from Ithaca College in 2008 with a dual degree in Anthropology and Writing, and was inducted to the Sigma Xi national research society in April 2008. Contact her at gem73@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2489.
	Jacalyn Spoon, MLS Adelson Library Administrator Jacie is the Librarian at the Adelson Library, located on the second floor of the Johnson Center. The Adelson Library, opened May 2004, is a classic library holding 12,000 volumes of printed material as well as information in other formats. She may also be called upon for information regarding the Lab's Fine Art collection. Jacie began her library career at SUNY Morrisville as a student worker where she earned her AAS in Musical Instrument Technology. Between 1986 and 2004 Jacie worked at the Ithaca College Library. While working full time she earned a bachelors degree in Anthropology with a minor in Art History from Ithaca College and her masters degree in Library Science from the University at Buffalo. Contact her at jcs93@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2165.
	Flisa Stevenson, MS MLA Marketing Manager Flisa Stevenson joined the Lab in October 2006 and works on marketing strategies and communications plans for all citizen science and education projects and products, with an emphasis on diversifying our audiences. Flisa has a background in environmental science education and outreach with experience in higher education focused on broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) fields. She holds a bachelors in journalism and marketing from the University of Texas Austin as well as master's degrees in environmental science education (from Southern CT State University) and in landscape architecture (from Cornell University). Flisa has also served as a consultant for the NSF Institute for Broadening Participation. She is passionate about gardening and designing sanctuary spaces, and enjoys learning about people and places through travel. Contact her at fms8@cornell.edu or at 607.254.1135.
	Nancy Trautmann, PhD Director of Education Nancy became Director of Education at the Lab in 2008. Previously she directed Cornell’s Environmental Inquiry and Cornell Science Inquiry Partnerships projects, aiming to enrich high school and middle school science by engaging students in authentic scientific research. After completing her M.S. in Natural Resources at Cornell, Nancy led various environmental science outreach projects while simultaneously pursuing her doctorate in Communication. Her interests include developing inquiry-based conservation biology programs for people of all ages, as well as exploring potential roles of the Internet in supporting learning. When not working, she takes any excuse to be outside – gardening, biking, skiing, canoeing, hiking, and even bird watching! Contact her at nmt2@cornell.edu or at 607.255.9257.
	Megan Whitman, MS Home Study Course Instructor Megan came to the Lab in 2004 and worked for three years in Citizen Science before joining the Education program in 2007. As the instructor for the Home Study Course in Bird Biology, she oversees all course activities and interacts with the course authors and editors to keep the course materials current. She earned her BA in Biology and Spanish from Earlham College where she first fell in love with birds, and after graduating she spent a number of years as a avian field biologist working in the U.S. and Central America. She earned her MS in Environmental Science at the University of Rhode Island where she studied changes in body composition of birds during migration. Contact her at mlw57@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2121.

	Mary Winston Public Outreach Assistant Mary joined the education department in August 2006. She is the first point of contact for Lab visitors. Her job is to answer questions, provide guidance and work to impart the Lab's mission through interaction with the visiting public. Another aspect of her job is to train and schedule the front desk staff in order to maintain seven-day coverage of the Lab's public areas. Mary holds a bachelors degree in history and education from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York and is a certified paralegal. Prior to coming to work at the Lab of Ornithology, Mary was an Administrative Specialist at the Syracuse University College of Law. Contact her at mew73@cornell.edu or at 607.254.2473.