Sanctuary Staff

 Sanctuary staff, from left: Chris Swarth, Elaine Friebele, Richard Chaney, Lindsay Hollister, Donald Smith, Emma Boyer, Jean Manganello. ~ photo by Mark Bundy

                                                                                                                                                    Photograph by Mark Bundy

Chris Swarth, Sanctuary Director
Chris received his BS (Zoology) from Humbolt State University (Calif.), and MS (Biology) from California State University, Hayward. He's a past president of the Atlantic Estuarine Research Society and currently serves on advisory committees with Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. Chris enjoys studying and teaching about wetlands ecology and the natural history of wetland plants and animals. He currently studies eastern box turtle population ecology and the foraging patterns of diving ducks on the Patuxent River estuary.

Elaine Friebele, Education Coordinator
Elaine designs, teaches and schedules Classrooms-in-the-Field, public programs, and summer camps. She also works with volunteers on Stream Monitoring research and other projects. She received her BS in Biology and Chemistry from Salem College (N. Carolina) and her MA in Aquatic Ecology from Johns Hopkins University. 
 
Lindsay Hollister, Naturalist & Volunteer Coordinator
Lindsay has a background in amphibian studies and marine science. A student of life, she is devoted to expanding her understanding of our natural systems and enjoys sharing her love of watery habitats with others. She received her BS in Marine Science from Millersville University (Penn.) in 2001.

Emma Boyer, Naturalist
Emma Gerald Boyer comes to us from the Carolinas and has a background in coastal ecology and field research. She received a BA in Biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Since then she has worked for the South Carolina DNR in the shellfish lab, with several seabird and shorebird species that nest along the South Carolina coast. She has monitored marsh birds around the Salton Sea in California, and was part of the team working on the damage assessment for the colonial nesting seabirds in response to the Mississippi Canyon 252 (a.k.a. Deep Water Horizon) oil spill. She has also volunteered with several environmental education programs and at the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw, SC. 
  
Jean Manganello, Office Manager
Along with keeping the office running smoothly, Jean enjoys working with the staff and volunteers on projects. 

Richard Chaney, Maintenance
Richard lives near the Sanctuary and enjoys working in the out of doors, maintaining our tractors and other equipment, and keeping the grounds looking good. 
 
Donald Smith, Maintenance
Bristol resident Donald Smith is an active member of Soller’s Methodist Church which borders the Sanctuary. Donald is a carpenter and a pipe fitter, and for over twenty years he worked for the U.S. Navy at the Washington Navy Yard.