Ohio Office Staff

Mike England, Executive Director

Before joining the International Field Studies team, I worked in environmental education roles at the Denver Zoo and Denver Aquarium in my hometown of Denver, Colorado and as a sea turtle conservationist and naturalist on the coast of Georgia and in Panama. I began my tenure with IFS at Forfar Field Station from 2017-2019 as an intern and environmental educator and transitioned into the role of Station Director from 2020-2023.

During my time on staff at Forfar, I earned my PADI Divemaster certification, facilitated the educational programs offered through IFS firsthand, and gained a deep understanding and integration to the local culture of Andros and The Bahamas. In my final year as Station Director, I adopted a local island dog (called a "Potcake") named Fish who has made the transition to living in the United States with me!

I am enthusiastic about opportunities to continue bettering the facilities and educational curricula offered by IFS, to strengthen my relationships with the staff at Forfar, to see groups I have worked with previously return to Forfar, and to further outreach efforts.

Katelyn McKee, Program Coordinator

I am from Delaware, Ohio and graduated from THE Ohio State University in 2022 with a biology degree. I enjoy spending my time hiking with my dog, birding, camping, and hanging out with friends and family. I previously held internships at Stratford Ecological Center and Ohio Department of Natural Resources where I had the opportunity to pursue my love for the outdoors and environmental education.

My time at Forfar as a gap year student was one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of my life. I made lifelong friends and am so thankful to have had the opportunity to explore the beauty of Andros. I am excited to coordinate trips for future students and watch them fall in love with the island just as much as I did.

Lindsay James, Marketing Coordinator — lindsay james, marketing & Gap Year coordinator

Lindsay James, Marketing & Gap Year Coordinator

Prior to coming on board with the team at IFS, I lived in Portland, Oregon where I was the program manager for Synergo. I planned and coordinated a variety of youth and adult experiential education programs on challenge courses. I truly value a program which takes a group away from their traditional routine and offers them an on-site experience that can transform how they view the world around them and those in it.

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio so it is nice to be back home. I love to spend time traveling, cooking and being outdoors with my two children, husband and our dog. I am so excited to join the IFS team, and I look forward to supporting our office staff and connecting with the Forfar community.

Forfar Field Station Staff

Jessica Manzak, Station Manager

As a high school student in the deep dark past, I was fortunate to spend a week at Forfar Field Station. Since then, I've had diverse experiences: I spent two years teaching animal science in North Carolina. Later, I lived for eight years in Tanzania, where I researched giraffes and African vultures. I also embarked on a four-month adventure living in a camper van, exploring the national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges across the United States.

In my free time, I’m passionate about birding and wildlife photography. I'm looking forward to my time at Forfar Field Station allowing me to combine my experiences in education and field research to inspire and guide the next generation of scientists.

Certifications: Red Cross First Aid, Adult CPR, PADI Open Water

Zoe Stannard, Dive Operations Manager / Environmental Educator

I’m from the UK and was an Environmental Educator at Forfar last season. I’m excited to be back this season as an Educator and the Dive Operations Manager! My prior experience includes working at the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute, as a Divemaster. My days were spent teaching volunteers about the marine ecosystem and leading daily reef surveys - basically, I got to dive into paradise every day!

When I’m not underwater, you’ll likely find me with a camera in hand. My passion for videography took off while studying Film and TV Production at the University of East Anglia. With a background in environmental media marketing, I would love to use creative skills to inspire and educate others about the wonders of the ocean, sparking their curiosity and excitement for conservation.

I’ve also had the privilege of working in schools around the world, teaching English, math and sports. I’m thrilled to be rejoining a community dedicated to spreading awareness and enthusiasm for protecting our oceans wonders and having a blast doing it! Joining the station again this year feels like the next exciting chapter in my journey, and I can’t wait to dive in, to continue to grow and share my commitment to marine conservation.

Certifications: Wilderness First Aid (WFA), PADI Dive Instructor, Reef Rescue Diver, DSD Leader, Lifeguard certification, EFR, O2 provider, First Aid

Zoltan Hartmus, EnvIrONMENTAL Educator / Dive Master

Zoltan Hartmus, Dive Master / Environmental Educator

I grew up in Columbus Ohio, but had the privilege of visiting beautiful forests, lakes, and oceans as a child which ignited my passion to explore the mysteries of the natural world. I graduated from Ohio State University in 2024 with a B.S. in Molecular Genetics with minors in Biology and Spanish. My teaching experience includes a year-long program which placed me as an English Language Assistant in a rural Spanish Elementary School, as well as a semester of being a TA for a Plant Biology course at OSU.

I am absolutely thrilled to be back for a third season on Andros Island, where my initial passion for Biology was discovered on a school trip to Forfar in 2017. I hope to continue contributing to the incredibly positive atmosphere at Forfar that made me want to return as a staff member, and to help students develop their passions and fuel them to leave the world a better place than we found it.

Certifications: PADI Dive Master, Reef Rescue Diver, Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED, Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

John Milligan, Environmental Educator

I was born and raised in northeast Ohio, 400 miles from the nearest ocean! But through a combination of visiting aquariums, family trips to the beach, and watching Animal Planet, I became completely enamored with all things marine biology. In 2018 I was fortunate enough to be able to go on my high school’s trip to Forfar Field Station, where I spent every second discovering as much as I could about the land and ocean ecosystems of Andros.

I attended the University of Dayton where I obtained a B.S. in Environmental Biology and a minor in Sustainability. During that time, I spent a semester abroad in Hawai’i where I volunteered at the Waikiki Aquarium, and another semester I taught American Sign Language at a local Dayton high school. After graduating, I spent a year on Jekyll Island, Georgia teaching kids the value and beauty of our coastal ecosystems and why we need to protect them. And just this past year, I worked in southwest Utah as a wildlife technician where I helped conduct research aimed at protecting various endangered species.

I love sharing knowledge about things I am truly passionate about. In my mind, proper education is the most important aspect of creating a better future. No one can determine how to make the world a better place without first understanding it. And so, I am very excited for this opportunity to teach and inspire the next generation of environmentalists!

Certifications: First Aid with CPR+AED

Collin Kifer, Environmental Educator

I'm from Tool, Texas and earned a degree from Ohio University in Environmental Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies, Sustainability, and Resilience in 2024. While at Ohio, I traveled to Forfar for a week to study the diverse ecosystems surrounding such a unique environment, and I’m privileged to be able to come back and furnish that experience for others.

My childhood was spent swimming and building tree forts in the Piney Woods of East Texas. While in college, I took up backpacking, rock climbing, and SCUBA, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to meet such incredible people while pursuing these hobbies. My time in Appalachia taught me about the intersection of natural resources policy, poverty, and environmental conservation initiatives. Soon after graduating, I embarked on a journey to Park County, Wyoming where I worked in rural economic development and then in natural resources as a park ranger. In my free time you can find me out birding or going for a swim.

I love making sure people are having a great time, and I believe the best way to create environmentalists is to get people to value nature- that all begins in places like Forfar Field Station.

Certifications: CPR/AED/First Aid (Red Cross), Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver (NAUI), Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector (WY Game and Fish)

Molly Sutton, Environmental Educator

I was born and raised in Canton, Ohio and grew up spending time outside and exploring. I was fortunate to take a trip to Forfar Field Station with my high school group in 2017, and absolutely loved it. Following this experience, I pursued my bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Virginia Tech, with a minor in Green Engineering.

After graduating, I moved to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where I worked as an educator and Assistant Program Coordinator for three years, at a field station focused on coastal ecology. Following this, I worked as an environmental educator in a county park in Pennsylvania. Outside of work, my hobbies and interests include birding, photography, horseback riding, reading, and hiking.

I am so excited to embrace all that Forfar and Andros Island have to offer and to learn and grow as an environmental educator!

Certifications: Pediatric and Adult CPR, First Aid, and AED

Emma Hodson, Environmental Educator

While I am originally from Darwin, Australia, I moved around a lot growing up and lived in East Timor, Malaysia, and France. Most recently, I lived in the UK, where I just finished my undergraduate and master’s degrees in marine biology.

I have always loved spending time in and around the sea- surfing, snorkelling, and sailing as much as possible. This exposed me to the importance and beauty of marine environments alongside the threats which they face, driving my passion for marine conservation and education.

Last year, I worked on a dolphin watching boat in Sardinia, Italy where I led tours while conducting research into the dolphin population in the area. I loved being able to share my love of marine life and I look forward to being able to do the same at Forfar!

Certifications: STCW First Aid, RYA Competent Crew, RYA Watch Leader