Meet the SCMEA Board!
President - KELSEY MURDAUGH -
Kelsey grew up in small town Beaufort, South Carolina, imprinted daily by barrier islands, sea islands, salt marsh estuaries, and freshwater rivers. Kelsey attended the College of Charleston where she earned her B.S. in Geology and her B.A. in History with a Business Minor. At the College of Charleston, Kelsey worked as a docent for the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History and assisted labs for multiple introductory and upper level Geology courses. From 2016 to 2018, Kelsey worked as an Education Interpreter at the South Carolina Aquarium, where she shared her passion and knowledge for South Carolina marine environments with visitors from all over the globe. Today, Kelsey works at South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management as a project manager specializing in South Carolina’s critical areas; including the tidelands, coastal waters, beaches, and the beach/dune system. Looking towards the future, Kelsey is dedicated to making positive changes for marine ecosystems in the state of South Carolina using both her regulatory knowledge and passion for education!
Past- President - HANNAH GIDDENS - Hannah, a native to West Ashley, still enjoys driving over the Ashley bridge as an adult to spend her afternoons with her family, pups and chickens. With a degree in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston she has worked in a chemical and molecular ecology lab and enjoyed a brief stint at NOAA’s CCEHBR complex many moons ago. Hannah has been in informal science education for 11 years. She is the Science Program Coordinator at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, happily nestled in the muddy bottom of Charleston Harbor.
Treasurer - Robin Rutherford - Robin graduated from the College of Charleston with a BS in Elementary Education and continued to receive her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. To date, Robin has earned over 90 hours past her masters with an emphasis in science education and has taught at Jennie Moore Elementary, W.B. Goodwin Elementary, and most recently, Porter Gaud. In 1994, Robin participated in the “Can Do” science program through Charleston County where she was given the opportunity to observe Comet Shoemater-Levy 9 impact Jupiter on the NASA Kuiper jet in Australia and in 1996 she was the finalist for the Charleston County Teacher of the Year. At her most recent school, Porter Gaud, Robin taught science lab to grades 1-4 with emphasis on marine education and helped design and teach Marine Mania Science Camp. Additionally, Robin helped design and build Porter Gaud’s wooden marsh boardwalk for students to make marine observations and even served as an Education Leadership Partner at the SC Aquarium from 2000 to 2020 before “retiring” in 2020. Robin continues to support marine education as a SCMEA board member and substitute teacher at Porter Gaud.
Membership Secretary - LAURA CHRISTENSEN - Laura was born in a small landlocked town in Nebraska. She visited the California coast many times growing up, sparking her love of the ocean. She earned her BS in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston, and she is now an education interpreter at the South Carolina Aquarium. Laura is currently pursuing a master’s in biology at Miami University of Ohio. Through this program, she traveled to the marine field station, in the Sea of Cortez, and worked closely with other informal educators and conservation specialists to transform informal science education through principles of participatory education and community-based conservation. Science communication and community science are Laura’s passions, and she will try to find a way to share the ocean’s wonders and connect with anyone she meets!
Media Secretary - SUSAN MCLAUGHLIN - My name is Susan McLaughlin and I am originally from Columbus, Ohio. Being in a landlocked state definitely made the ocean a place that has always fascinated me and I am so happy to live in Charleston where I can see it every day now! I went to school at Miami University for a Bachelor's in Zoology and minored in Nutrition and Art History. After school I worked in Education and Animal Care at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and eventually became a Sea Lion Trainer. Working with these marine mammals was where I really fell in love with marine life! I loved working in animal care but at that time it was all behind the scenes and I missed the education side of my job and knew I needed to make a change. I now work at the South Carolina Aquarium in Education and feel like I really get to fulfill my dream of "making a difference in the world". Talking to classes about protecting our natural world is so rewarding and I feel lucky to have such an incredible job. In my free time I love running, hiking, watching soccer, reading, and hanging out with my very funny looking rescue dog named Chalupa Batwoman. I am excited at the possibility of joining the board for SCMEA because one of my favorite things in the world is talking to people about what they are passionate about and this is a group that exhibits that best!
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President-Elect - COURTNEY GERTENMAIER FELTON - Courtney is originally from Ohio (I know another one...), but has lived in the Charleston area for 11 years now. She has a masters degree in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston and has worked on numerous mudflats, beaches, and boats! She has been in informal science education for five years working in both DC and Charleston. While in DC she became a member of NMEA and was thrilled to meet other like-minded individuals! She currently works at the South Carolina Aquarium as an educational interpreter and as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston.
NMEA Chapter Representative
- JAIME THOM - Jaime is the School Programs Manager at the South Carolina Aquarium. She is passionate about sharing her love of nature and conservation with students all over South Carolina. She also enjoys working with teachers during professional developments. The ocean has always been a calling of hers from the time she was a little girl from Indiana exploring the beach on family vacations. Now she gets to share that love with her daughter and the visitors at the South Carolina Aquarium. Her 14 years experience in the informal education field is only the beginning!
Secretary - CHRISTOPHER JACKSON - Growing up in Michigan, I was always interested in nature and being outdoors. My decision to study marine biology eventually brought me to Charleston for the College of Charleston’s graduate program. I quickly fell in love with the climate and the amazing coastal habitats. While still in grad school in the late 1980’s, I attended a science conference of marine science educators out at Camp St. Christopher. That was my first introduction to SCMEA. Following grad school, I did research for a while as a field biologist with DNR, but discovered my true calling while doing educational outreach programs in local schools. I developed a love for teaching. I started working as an environmental educator for the City of Charleston, Cypress Gardens and for an eco-tour company called Charleston Explorers. I was also fortunate to work with some amazing people as a volunteer at the SC Aquarium and as an educator aboard USS Yorktown. I currently work as a biology instructor at Trident Technical College. I have also been a member of SCMEA off and on for over twenty years.
Board Member at Large - DR. ERIK SOTKA - Erik is from Oregon, but fell in love with the southeastern Atlantic coastlines while pursuing his PhD at UNC Chapel Hill. He was hired by the College of Charleston in 2005, where he has continued to teach and pursue research. He studies evolutionary ecology, combining tools from natural history, manipulative field experiments, population genetics, and chemical ecology. In recent years, his funded research has focused on invasive species and Spartina alterniflora salt marshes. He is a sandlapper-in-training, having raised two kids (11 and 13) in the Lowcountry. He is hoping to facilitate linkages between SC college and university faculty and K-12 educators.
Scholarship Chair - HEIDI CHAMPION - Heidi is the Education Specialist with the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. Born and raised in the Florida Keys she has always had a close affinity to the water and the coral reefs she calls home. Heidi’s eleven years of experience in environmental education in the Charleston area has helped hone her skills as a naturalist and educator. As an informal educator with the Charleston County Parks for the past seven years, she has been lucky enough to share her love and passion of the environment with over 10,000 children a year and looks forward to sharing it with many more!
SeaScripts Editor - DR. STEVE MORTON - Steve received his B.S and M.S. from Florida Institute of Technology in Biological Oceanography and his Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University. He is currently a Research Oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Reference Branch. Steve is the Principal Investigator of the NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN), a citizen science program whose volunteers represent public and private schools, colleges and universities, Native American tribes, state and national parks, aquariums, civic groups, shellfish growers and other non-governmental organizations. During his career, he has authored over 140 per reviewed manuscripts, serves on the editorial boards of four international journals, and serves as a technical expert for the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nation’s Decade of Ocean Science Arctic Task Force. Steve recently co-edited “Harmful Algal Blooms: A Compendium Desk Reference” published by Wiley-Blackwell press. Dr. Morton has been awarded the NOAA Administrator’s Award in 2016, the United States Department of Commence Bronze Award in Research in 2007, 2008 and 2015 and the United States Vice President’s Hammer Award in 2000.
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Current SCMEA Officers and Board Members
President: Kelsey Murdaugh SC Department of Health & Environmental Control Past President: Hannah Giddens Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum President-Elect: Courtney Gerstenmaier Felton South Carolina Aquarium Treasurer: Robin Rutherford Retired- Porter Gaud Membership Secretary: Laura Christensen South Carolina Aquarium NMEA Chapter Rep: Jaime Thom South Carolina Aquarium SeaScripts Editor: Steve Morton NOAA Media Secretary: Susan McLaughlin South Carolina Aquarium Scholarships/Awards: Heidi Champion Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission Secretary: Christopher Jackson Trident Tech Board Member At Large: Dr. Erik Sotka College of Charleston |
List of Past Presidents
2020 Hannah Giddens 2019 Marni Friedman 2018 Kendyll Collins 2017 Lindsay Patterson 2016 Rachel Davis 2015 Meika Samuel 2014 Blaik Keppler 2013 Beth Thomas 2012 Elizabeth Vernon Bell 2011 Beth Burkett 2010 Scott Meister 2009 Elizabeth Joyner 2008 Sue Morrison 2007 George Sedberry 2005 *Sue Morrison 2004 Elaine McClure 2003 Mark Madden 2002 Colette Dryden 2001 Arla Jessen 2000 Carmelina Livingston 1998 *Rob Young 1997 Sarah Mitchell 1996 Fred James 1995 Leslie Sautter 1994 Julie Cliff 1993 Bruce Lampright 1992 Phil Astwood 1991 Beth Day 1990 Paula Keener-Chavis 1989 Rhett Wilson 1988 Wendy Allen *18 month term because the conference changed from Fall to Spring between 1998 & 2000 and then changed from Spring to Fall between 2005 and 2006. |