Alumni Updates Spring 2008

'02

Mary Rogalski: I got married this summer to Ben Rogalski, a W&M alum (we're both class of 2002). I'm pursuing a master's in environmental science at Yale University, through the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (will finish in 2009). My degree is research focused, and I'm working on a study of the effects of invasive Phragmites australis, also known as common reed, on amphibian larval development and survival. Previously, I lived in the D. C. area for several years, working first as an environmental science policy assistant and then as a park naturalist.

Marisa Guarinello: I am still at work on my M.S. in Oceanography at URI's Graduate School of Oceanography. I conduct coastal ecology research, primarily on benthic habitats and hypoxia in a coastal lagoon. I also examine how to translate this type of data into habitat mapping and classification schemes that can be of use to coastal resource managers.

Marian Carroll: Currently working as a Stormwater Compliance Specialist for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in Northern Virginia. My main job function is enforcing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program on construction sites.

Joshua Dietz: Graduated from Washington and Lee University School of Law in May 2007. After admittance to the Virginia Bar in October 2007, Josh found employment as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Roanoke. Josh is also getting married in June 2008 to Carolyn Nichols, ‘02. The wedding will be in Annapolis, Maryland.

'03

Stephanie Ford-Molvik: Since June 2007, I have been working as a biomedical scientist for SAIC in support of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (http://cdmrp.army.mil/). I am currently assigned to the Ovarian Cancer Research Program's team. Additionally, I'm hoping to enter a new Ph.D. program in Fall 2008.

'04

Mellisa Pensa: Will graduate from UConn Medical School in May of this year and go on to residency in Family and Preventative Medicine at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. Mellisa is engaged to Jonathan Sharr, of Connecticut and they plan to marry in June of 2009. Mellisa still enjoys running, outdoor activities, cooking, and entertaining in her free time.

Patrick Burke: I am currently working as a field technician for multiple agencies in Maine. Projects this spring include passerine night migration radar surveys, songbird point counts and blood sampling for heavy metals, and snowshoe hare population surveys. This summer I will be guiding trips in the White Mountains for Thompson Island Outward Bound.

'06

Emily Thompson: I'm a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. I am interested in plant ecology, disease ecology, and invasive species. My dissertation research will be looking at the impact of disease on a forest community at Point Reyes National Seashore in California.

'07

Elizabeth Moore: I began a job with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla, North Carolina the end of January. I am loving it as my job includes teaching different age groups a variety of classes, ranging from specific local wildlife to larger ecology courses (including a Nature Journals class!) and also allows me to participate in response to wildlife strandings (such as sea turtles, dolphins and anything bigger we might get) as well as attending workshops to work on my Environmental Education Certification through North Carolina.

Matthew Wolak: I am still in my first year of the PhD program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California Riverside. I am generally studying the evolution of sexual dimorphism and its ecological consequences. This summer I will be working on sex-linkage of sexually dimorphic traits in populations of water striders from Santa Cruz Island and San Diego. Also, I just received word that I have been awarded a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

Erin Morgan: This spring I am working as a lab technician with Dr. Jim Perry in the Wetlands Ecology lab at VIMS. This summer, I am moving back to Washington state to work as an environmental educator aboard the tall ship S/V Adventuress. I am planning to apply for doctoral programs in marine ecology for Fall 2009.

Don't lose touch! Send news to www.wm.edu/environment/alumniupdate.php.
Also send updates to the Alumni Association, and be sure to note that you are an ENSP alum!