Mosaics 2015 Interns

Photo of Christina Andry

Christina Andry
Geomorphology Technician
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Christina Andry is a recent graduate from the University of Texas in Austin, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. She gets inspired and energized by the outdoors and is particularly interested in geologic hazard assessments and mitigation. Some of her interests include yoga, food sustainability, foraging, traveling, and of course, all things outside: climbing, camping, hiking, biking, and swimming.

Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley
Sea Turtle and Shore Bird Outreach Assistant
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida & Mississippi—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Michael Bradley graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a major in Environmental Science with a concentration in Geology, and a minor in Geography. Michael developed an interest in geology while going to school in Hilo, Hawaii. Some of his interests involve conserving freshwater ecosystems, rock climbing, camping, and playing disc golf.

Montague "Monty" Brantley

Montague "Monty" Brantley
Water Quality Research Assistant
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Montague "Monty" Brantley recently graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Interdisciplinary Science and a minor in Spanish. He was an Evans Scholar Recipient and a member of the Purdue Bands and Orchestras and Crater Cafe for undergraduates. Montague has performed basic lab work in areas such as mathematics, physical sciences, and biology while attending college. For the last two summers, he has worked at the Fort Wayne Urban League as a science and math tutor. Monty plans to eventually pursue a a graduate degree in a multidisciplinary science field and work at NASA, USGS, a science institution, or a university. His hobbies include basketball, football, swimming, writing, walking, relaxing, and exploring new places.

Devyn Corrales

Devyn Corrales
Interpretation/Resource Management Assistant
Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Devyn Corrales is attending Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Coastal Environmental Science. Her career goals include helping animals in need by working on a rescue crew or as a veterinary physician. She has performed research at Guana River State Park. Devyn hopes to gain work experience and networking opportunities out of her Mosaics internship at Fort Matanzas National Monument. Her interests include hiking, camping, horseback riding, kayaking, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

Dipa Desai

Dipa Desai
Paleontology Museum/Field Technician
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Dipa Desai graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC) where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with minors in Geological Sciences and Archeology. Dipa has worked in projects studying growth bands of Astarte and Patella shells with UNC Paleoclimatology lab; pre-Incan archaeology during an excavation Cerro la Virgen with MOCHE, Inc.; clinical and diagnostic molecular oncology testing with LabCorp of America; and with media science at UNC Libraries. Dipa is a member of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Her hobbies include cooking, painting, tinkering, and exploring outdoors.

Suzanna Doak

Suzanna Doak
Trail Design & GIS Assistant
Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Suzanna Doak is a junior majoring in Geology with a minor in English at Oberlin College. She was introduced to the field after taking a geology class in her freshman year. Suzanna has worked on several different geomorphology projects as well as GIS performing local water quality and image reclassification. She is excited to be able to expand those skills to assist a wider population with an appreciation for nature. Suzanna's interests include hiking, camping, art, and playing lacrosse.

Mariama Dryak

Mariama Dryak
Archaeological Research Assistant
Western Arctic National Parklands, Alaska

Mariama Dryak is an undergraduate at Durham University in the United Kingdom, studying Physical Geography and Archaeology. She developed a fascination with archaeology from a young age while growing up on an organic agricultural operation in Wisconsin where she became aware of the negative impact anthropogenic activities could have on the environment. Mariama loves adventure and travel, and when not outdoors or running on muddy trails, she can generally be found reading books or advocating for the environment.

James Ford

James Ford
GIS and Longleaf Pine Assistant
Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

James Ford is an undergraduate at St. Mary's University in San Antonio Texas where he is studying Environmental Science. He grew up close to Mt. Shasta, California, which inspired his scientific interests in forest geology. He plans to pursue a master's degree in a related field and hopes to work for a federal agency. James is a veteran of the U.S. Army, has two Purple Hearts, and is a participant of Veterans Expeditions. James hopes to gain valuable knowledge and experience working at Big Thicket National Preserve that will help him with his career after graduation. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, jogging and any kind of floating activity.

Lauren Frankel

Lauren Frankel
Natural History Museum Collections Assistant
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina & Tennessee—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Lauren Frankel will be starting at Grinnell College in the fall majoring in Biology with a concentration on Environmental studies. For the past year, she has been an intern with the Mammalogy Department at the American Museum of Natural History doing collections management and researching the evolutionary history of bats in the Caribbean. Lauren is excited to be working with the National Park Service and to see more biodiversity beyond mammals. In her free time, she enjoys teaching yoga, hiking, and reading.

Michael Fuerte

Michael Fuerte
Biological Science (Bats) Research Assistant
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah—[
Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Michael Fuerte is attending the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with an Environmental Sciences concentration. Michael has performed wetland species research for the University of Wisconsin in collaboration with a USGS facility, however his knowledge outside of Wisconsin ecosystems has been very limited thus far therefore he is hoping to learn more as a Mosaics Intern. Michael hopes to take the experience and knowledge he will gain from this Mosaics opportunity with him as he continues to study environmental science in graduate school.

Reina Galvan

Reina Galvan
Biology Technician
Fire Island National Seashore, New York—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]
Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network

Reina Galvan is a senior majoring in wildlife biology at Colorado State University. She is involved in two long-term research projects at her University, and is an environmental educator at the Environmental Learning Center. Reina is currently working on her senior thesis researching how the increase in anthropogenic noise at Alcatraz Island is affecting the behavior of the Double-Crested Cormorant. Upon graduation she wishes to work as a field wildlife biologist for a government agency. She is excited to begin to analyze and understand the unique salt marsh ecosystem at Fire Island National Seashore.

Angel Iverson

Angel Iverson
Biodiversity Assistant
Homestead National Monument of America, Nebraska—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Angel Iverson is a recent graduate of the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She has worked with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Lincoln, Nebraska and has participated in the Garden Club for elementary schools and Environmentors program for high-school students at the UNL. Angel believes that everything is connected and that environmental education is crucial to teach our future generations the importance of our resources. She hopes that with her enthusiasm and encouragement she will have a positive impact on our children's outlook on the environment.

Marie Jimenez

Marie Jimenez
Dinosaur Quarry Mapping Assistant
Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Marie Jimenez moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic when she was a young girl. Growing up she was unaware of all the opportunities that were available to her that were simply impossible in her homeland. In middle school, she moved from a low-income neighborhood with a poor school system to a better school and her possibilities grew. She became involved with the Science Olympiad and realized that she wanted to pursue a career in science. She is now studying Geology at the University of Rhode Island. Marie has a passion for science and outreach and hopes that one day she can make a difference in the lives of kids with similar upbringing as hers.

Samuel Kraft

Samuel Kraft
Wetlands Assistant
Point Reyes National Seashore, California—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Samuel Kraft recently graduated from the University of Maryland – Baltimore with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Geography and a GIS certificate. Last summer, he worked in Costa Rica, interviewing stakeholders on the effects of conservation policies and working on a coffee plantation creating a map of its surrounding trails. Sam loves exploring new places, understanding how an environmental system works, and how people affect and interact with it. His interests include running, backpacking, and sailing.

Tarryn Lee
Tarryn Lee
Integrated Education / Hydrology Assistant
Congaree National Park, South Carolina—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Tarryn Lee is currently a senior at Towson University where she is majoring in Earth/Space Science with a minor in Geology and Meteorology. Her scientific interests include Ecology and Atmospheric Science. Upon graduation she plans to go in to the field of natural resource management or science education. Tarryn is currently working as a Park Naturalist at Patuxent River Park in Maryland. Her training and teaching focuses on the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, specifically, the Patuxent River. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, paddling, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Kathryn Leys

Kathryn Leys
Night Sky Monitoring and Preservation Assistant
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Kathryn Leys is a recent graduate in Environmental Studies from Carleton College in Minnesota. She has worked in the geographic information system laboratory at Carleton College and gained experience in GIS and its broad range of uses. Kathryn is interested in understanding how and why people interact with the land. Her goals are to pursue a career that combines GIS, Anthropology, and Urban Planning. Being a native of Minnesota, Kathryn has had the opportunity to take several trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. She enjoys primitive camping, canoeing, the need to be self-reliant, and the peaceful solace of a clear starlit night.

Maia Murphy-Williams

Maia Murphy-Williams
Fisher Restoration Assistant
Olympic National Park, Washington—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Maia Murphy-Williams recently graduated from Colorado College where she majored in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Conservation. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but has lived in Colorado for the past five years. Maia has a passion for the outdoors and a love for the natural word.

Megan Norr
Megan Norr
Smithsonian Paleontology Assistant
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

Megan Norr graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Geology from Slippery Rock University. She worked with the only paleontology professor at her university collecting samples at various outcrops and performing lab research involving chemical procedures and optical analysis of ammonoid rock matrices to recover conodont elements. As a child, she was fortunate to visit various national parks, which sparked her interest in geology. She would like to further her education in paleontology by getting her master's degree in the next few years and hope to one day be able to work for the National Park Service or a partner organization. In her spare time, Megan enjoys hiking.
Janette Perez-Jimenez

Janette Perez-Jimenez
Science Communication Assistant
Lava Beds National Monument, California—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Janette Perez-Jimenez is a recent graduate of the University of California, Davis. She received her Bachelors of Science in Wildlife with an emphasis in Conservation Biology. She was the President of the Davis Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society and was actively involved with MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences) throughout her undergraduate career. Janette is passionate about wildlife conservation and hopes to serve as an intermediary between the scientific community and the public. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and trying new foods.

Jaudat Raza

Jaudat Raza
Science Education &App Development Assistant
Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Jaudat Raza is a junior at California State University â€"Long Beach where he is studying computer engineering. His goals are to minor in computer science in order to enhance his programing knowledge. Jaudat hopes that by working as an application developer for Manassas National Battlefield Park, he will have the opportunity to learn and develop a computer application, which would later help him in his career as a computer engineer.

Salvador Silahua

Salvador Silahua
Prairie Restoration Assistant
San Juan Island National Historical Park, Washington—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Salvador Silahua is currently a senior at Humboldt State University where he is studying ecological restoration and botany. Upon graduation, he wishes to be able to help people through education and managing natural resources. Salvador hopes to volunteer for the Peace Corps in South America. He is currently tutoring math, science, and Spanish for a non-profit organization called Upward Bound, which serves high school students from low-income families. He has worked with the natural resources club at the University helping to restore areas around Humboldt County and volunteers as a teacher's aide in elementary schools around Arcata, CA.

Taylor Wilson-Primm

Taylor Wilson-Primm
Geoscience Interpreter
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Taylor Wilson-Primm will be graduating in December 2015 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Geology and a minor in History at the University of Tennessee. Throughout her college career, her love of traveling and the outdoors has allowed her to complete three geoscience travel studies to Puerto Rico, the Pacific Northwest, and Colorado;go caving in Puerto Rico and Tennessee;and climb to the summit of Mt. St. Helens. In 2013, she did an internship at the Hammer Museum in Haines, Alaska, where she interpreted the history of one of humans first tool, the hammer, in tours and exhibits. Taylor hopes to tie her career as a science interpreter in with some of her favorite hobbies including horseback riding, caving, sea kayaking, and living history farms/settlements.

Anton Yelk

Anton Yelk
Air Quality and Visibility Interpretive Assistant
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Anton Yelk is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a Bachelor's degree in Geology and a minor in Hydrogeology. He participated in the 2014 Mosaics Program where he worked at Grand Teton National Park. Prior to graduation Anton volunteered as a teacher's assistant for Geology labs, and as an exam supervisor for Science Olympiad events. His scientific interests include geology, volcanology, glaciology, and hydrology. In his spare time Anton enjoys hiking, rock climbing, or other outdoor activities.

Yuri Lopez

Yuri Lopez
Dragonfly and Damselfly Biodiversity Assistant
Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana—[Geodiversity Atlas] [Park Home]

Yuri Lopez received her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Governors State University. She wants to pursue a master's degree in either Environmental Biology or Ecology. Her senior research project involved understanding the water chemistry along Thorn Creek in University Park, Illinois. Yuri enjoys walking and hiking with her golden retriever named Sammi.

Related Links

Last updated: December 1, 2022