Meet the SCMEA Board!
President - 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.
Secretary - MORGAN TREON - Morgan is currently the Marine Education Specialist with S.C. Sea Grant Consortium. Prior to moving to South Carolina, Morgan earned her B.A. in Earth Science and M.A.T. in Secondary Education from James Madison University in Virginia. While Morgan’s educational background is in geology, she grew up exploring and appreciating the Chesapeake Bay in her hometown of Virginia Beach. Since moving to Charleston, Morgan has worked as the Lead Education Aide with Charleston County Parks and earned her South Carolina Master Naturalist Certification. From birding to kayaking, Morgan loves to be outdoors learning and educating about the Lowcountry’s ecosystems.
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!
Board Member at Large - MOLLY MYER - Molly graduated from Boston University with a degree in Elementary Education. She has been teaching for twenty-nine years. Currently she is teaching Science (fourth through eighth grade) and STREAM (K4-eighth grade) at Saint John Catholic School in North Charleston. Molly loves living in Charleston and providing environmental activities to her students. She is so thankful to be a part of SCMEA and learning all that she can to help her students and other teachers.
Scholarship Chair - DR. JENNIFER BROWN - Originally hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Jennifer Brown has been teaching Biology at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) since 2013. She has her B.S. in Biology from the College of Mount Saint Joseph, and her M.S and Ph.D. in Botany from Miami University. She struggled to choose between plants and marine science for graduate school, but plants eventually won. However, the opportunity to teach at GSSM brought her to Hartsville, SC, and closer to the ocean. She rediscovered her passion and has turned it into a teaching opportunity by developing a new Marine Biology course for her school. At GSSM, Jennifer currently teaches AP Biology and three above-AP advanced elective courses: Botany, Marine Biology, and Molecular Biology of the Cell. In the classroom, Jennifer strives to make her classes memorable through hands-on learning and real-world connections. In March, 2023, Jennifer was recognized as the 2023 Teacher of the Year for Excellence in Secondary School Math or Scientific Inquiry by the South Carolina Academy of Science (SCAS). Beyond the classroom, Jennifer works to mentor her students through a variety of groups and seeks new ways to give back to her school and local community. In her free time, Jennifer loves spending time with her family, traveling, gardening, and racing in half marathons.
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President Elect - DAKOTAH TANCZUK - Dakotah grew up in Colorado, California, and Charleston, SC, and has always loved adventuring outdoors, whether hiking, camping, skiing, or surfing. She got her B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, and while education wasn’t what she studied, it has been her passion since middle school. She has been working in informal science education at various aquariums for over 4 years now. Currently, Dakotah is the Virtual Programs Coordinator at the South Carolina Aquarium. In her free time, she volunteers for Folly Beach Turtle Patrol, participates in nest surveys, cuddles with her cat while reading as many books as possible, paints (poorly), takes photos of birds and surfs.
Past President - 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!
Treasurer - CHRISTOPHER JACKSON - Growing up in Michigan, Chris was always interested in nature and being outdoors. His decision to study marine biology eventually brought him to Charleston for the College of Charleston’s graduate program. He quickly fell in love with the climate and the amazing coastal habitats. While still in grad school in the late 1980’s, he attended a science conference of marine science educators out at Camp St. Christopher. That was his first introduction to SCMEA. Following grad school, he did research for a while as a field biologist with DNR, but discovered his true calling while doing educational outreach programs in local schools. He developed a love for teaching. He started working as an environmental educator for the City of Charleston, Cypress Gardens and for an eco-tour company called Charleston Explorers. He was also fortunate to work with some amazing people as a volunteer at the SC Aquarium and as an educator aboard USS Yorktown. He currently works as a biology instructor at Trident Technical College. He has been a member of SCMEA off and on for over twenty years.
Media Secretary - MARY ELIZABETH MCDONALD - Mary Elizabeth McDonald is originally from Gainesville, GA. She attended college in the mountains of North Georgia in Dahlonega. After college, she got married and spent a year in Abaco, Bahamas. Although her job was focused on youth and music, living on an island gave her a huge appreciation and respect for the ocean and conservation. Upon moving back to the US, she took a job in northern Kentucky as a zookeeper (Ararat Ridge Zoo, Ark Encounter), where she primarily worked in general care of small mammals and reptiles; She also started diving into animal programming. She found that her true passion was educating the public, showing them the importance of each and every part of the world around us, no matter how small. As you can imagine, it is difficult to find people who love animals AND also love people. She currently works at the South Carolina Aquarium in the education department and it has been her most fulfilling opportunity to date. Each day she is shown new and exciting facts, passions, and the joys of educating.
Membership Secretary - ANNIE BOYD - Annie was raised in Ohio and came to South Carolina to attend Coastal Carolina University in 2015. She obtained a Bachelors in Marine Science and Biology while working as a marine science educator and a tank diver at Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach. During her college career, she developed a passion for environmental conservation education and outreach, and followed that passion through working with rehabilitated sea lions with Squalus Inc., caring for manatees undergoing rehabilitation at ZooTampa, and as a naturalist at a variety of organizations within Beaufort, SC. Currently, she works for the Lowcountry Montessori School as a naturalist providing environmental education. She is a part of the Green Drinks Beaufort Chapter Steering Committee, the Lowcountry Master Naturalist Education Committee and is an active Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network volunteer. When she isn't waist deep in environmental education, she is engrossed in a book, her hands are covered in clay on a potter's wheel, she's forest bathing on a hike with her dog, or she is out exploring the marsh on a boat with a cast net and binoculars in hand.
SeaScripts Editor - CALLIE CORNETT – Callie Cornett is originally from Peebles, Ohio. She attended Morehead State University and received her B.S. in Animal Science. Callie moved to Charleston in 2020 and currently works at the South Carolina Aquarium as an interpreter in the education department. Her favorite part of her job is creating programs for people of all ages. When she isn’t working, Callie enjoys arts and crafts, birdwatching, and spending time with her cats.
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Current SCMEA Officers and Board Members
President: Steve Morton NOAA Past President: Heidi Champion Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission President Elect: Dakotah Tanczuk South Carolina Aquarium Treasurer: Christopher Jackson Trident Tech Membership Secretary: Annie Boyd Lowcountry Montessori School NMEA Chapter Rep: Jaime Thom South Carolina Aquarium SeaScripts Editor: Callie Cornett South Carolina Aquarium Media Secretary: Mary Elizabeth McDonald South Carolina Aquarium Scholarships/Awards: Jennifer Brown South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Secretary: Morgan Treon SC Sea Grant Consortium Board Member At Large: Molly Myer Saint John Catholic School |
List of Past Presidents
2023 Heidi Champion 2022 Courtney Gerstenmaier Felton 2021 Kelsey Murdaugh 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. |