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

Zoltan Hartmus, EnvIrONMENTAL Educator

Zoltan Hartmus, 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 recently graduated from Ohio State University 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 take the next steps of my journey on Andros Island, where my initial passion for Biology was discovered on a school trip to Forfar in 2017. I hope to contribute to the incredibly positive atmosphere at Forfar that made me want to return as an Intern, and to help students develop their passions and fuel them to leave the world a better place than we found it.

Certifications: Advanced Open Water Diver, Reef Rescue Diver, Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED, Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Zoe Stannard, Environmental Educator

I’m from the UK and over the past year, I’ve been living the dream at the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute, working 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! This summer, I switched things up and embraced the chilly waters of the UK. It was a shock to the system but has been truly rewarding, letting me advance my diving career while sharing my passion for diving and marine life.

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 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 Divemaster, Reef Rescue Diver, DSD Leader, Lifeguard certification, EFR, O2 provider, First Aid

Eve Adelson, Environmental Educator

I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma and I earned a dual degree from Duke University in 2022 in Environmental Science & Policy and Cinematic Arts, and a certificate in Documentary Studies. While at Duke, I specialized in ecology, spending a semester at Duke's Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina. I conducted research on oyster reefs, anemones, and the impact of parasitism on mussels.

After graduating, I embarked on a gap year where I participated in various conservation projects around the world. I traveled around Europe, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia before making my last stop in Thailand, where I earned my PADI Divemaster certification.

Having both a science and arts background, I am very passionate about science communication and am looking forward to bringing that energy to Forfar!

Certifications: PADI Divemaster, Reef Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder (CPR/First Aid w/ AED), Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

Cameron Miller, Environmental Educator

I am originally from Western Massachusetts, but spent my last year in Costa Rica working at different wildlife rescue centers. In school, my favorite class was easily marine vertebrate zoology. Growing up, I always had a love for the ocean and would often find myself exploring the beach/water for whatever animals I could find. Even now, I would easily choose that over a day of tanning.

I've been wanting to expand my horizons and experience more in the world, so working as an environmental educator at Forfar was a no brainer. I look forward to this opportunity and to learn more about a new culture while I'm at it!

Certifications: CPR/AED, First Aid, Certified Personal Trainer, WFA, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Reef Rescue Diver

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