We are proud to introduce the second year of River Town Outreach Corps (RTOC) members! Here are the great new faces of RTOC:
Jeff Malik, Project Leader, is originally from Cleveland, Tennessee. After serving in the program last year, he is now Project Leader. Jeff attended the University of Tennessee, graduating with a degree in Geography. He has previously served with the SCA in Wyoming and Pennsylvania, and as an Alumni Ambassador in Tennessee. Jeff also has previous career experience with the National Park Service, before returning to the SCA. His hobbies include hiking, building bicycles, and dabbling in most other outdoor activities.
Samantha Lichtenwald is from Midland, Michigan. She recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Natural Resources from Central Michigan University (CMU). Samantha has previously worked in the Department of Biology at CMU as the coordinator for the Biology Undergraduate Mentoring Program and as the Executive Secretary Assistant. Samantha also previously assisted as a field technician in various projects, including the Michigan Marsh Bird Survey and the Deer Check Station with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Samantha enjoys photography and outdoor activities such as canoeing, camping, biking, and hunting.
Jenna Gatto is from Mays Landing, New Jersey. She graduated from Rutgers University School of Environment and Biological Sciences with a B.S in Environmental Planning and Design focus on Landscape Architecture, which is an accredited Landscape Architecture program. She has previously worked for the Rutgers Landscape Architecture Extension Department on site design and research projects. She has also been an avid volunteer for the Barnegat Bay Partnership, where she successfully helped to organize volunteers to clean up property along the Toms River.
Marah Vecenie is a Pittsburgh native who recently graduated from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography, Environmental Studies track. While earning her degree she was the president of Gamma Theta Upsilon and the secretary of the Geography, Geology, and Environment club. Previous to her position with the River Town Program, Marah worked with an endangered bird species in Texas at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. She was also worked with the Allegheny Land Trust for a short period of time as their field photography intern. In her free time she enjoys reading, yoga, and hiking.
Ryan Fielden is from the village of Waynesville, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S in Environmental Science concentrating in the study of water. Last summer he worked in Denver, Colorado as a Field Biologist Crew Leader for OtterTail Environmental, Inc. It is the love for the wilderness that inclined him to assist in ecosystem conservation, both for the species that live there and for human enjoyment simultaneously. Ryan is involved with many outdoor activities such as fishing, backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking.
