Gary Fewless, Emeritus Botanist,

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall, Herbarium
fewlessg@uwgb.edu

Gary Fewless is a botanist with broad interests in the native flora of the western Great Lakes, and over 30 years experience with wetlands, rare species and invasive plants.  He conducts research involving local native plants and provides content to Cofrin Center for Biodiversity web pages including extensive web sites for Wisconsin Trees, Ferns and other plants and an on-going phenology website extending back to 2000.  He also provides photographs for biodiversity teaching, websites and other educational venues.

In his free time he enjoys photography, hiking, kayaking and camping.

Erin Giese, Data Manager

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall 124A 920.465.2545

giesee@uwgb.edu

Erin Giese is the Senior Research Specialist and manages and archives the Center's data collections, including helping students and staff. She coordinates and conducts field work for the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program, Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II, and Christmas Bird Count. Through steering committees and other leadership teams, she is also involved with the Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society, Lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern, Northern Forest Birds Network, Upper Mississippi and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative, Nicolet National Forest Bird Survey, and other efforts. With Center staff and colleagues, she writes grants, reports, and manuscripts on topics pertaining to birds and other wildlife. She is the founding staff advisor for the campus student organization, Green Bay Audubon Student Conservation Chapter, for which she provides guidance and leadership to students interested in birds.

She and her husband enjoy traveling the world to experience other cultures, wildlife, birds, landscapes, and people and have been fortunate enough to step foot onto all seven continents. Erin values family and friends above all else and truly enjoys sharing birds and wildlife with others less familiar with nature.

Robert Howe, Director

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall 212B
hower@uwgb.edu 920.465.2272

Bob Howe is the founding Director of the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity and a Professor of Biology in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences. He has been a faculty member at UW-Green Bay since 1984, teaching courses in environmental science, conservation, ecology, mammalogy, and ornithology. In addition to administrative responsibilities with the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, he maintains an active research program involving bird population dynamics, restoration ecology, forest ecosystems, endangered species, ecological indicators, and the ecology and conservation of Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Bob is author or co-author of more than 100 scientific publications, including The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Wisconsin and papers in international journals like Science, Ecology, Evolution, Conservation Biology, Biological Conservation, and Landscape Ecology. His research collaborators include scientists from every continent except Antarctica.

A proud father of three boys, Bob enjoys photography, biking, all kinds of music, and traveling to parks and natural areas around the world with his family. He and his wife, Dr. Amy Wolf, have led international travel courses to Panama and Australia. Although originally from northern Minnesota, Bob is an avid Wisconsin sports fan.

Dan Meinhardt, Curator of Richter Museum

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall 212
meinhada@uwgb.edu 920.465.2398

Dan Meinhardt is Curator of the Richter Museum of Natural History and Associate Professor of Human Biology, Biology, and Women’s and Gender Studies. He is responsible for overseeing the care, maintenance, loans, and visitors to the collections. Dr. Meinhardt’s research interests include the development and evolution of the vertebrate skeleton, the causes and implications of variation in sex and gender, the philosophy of science, and the relationship between art and science. He teaches courses in comparative vertebrate anatomy and evolutionary biology, as well as seminars in biology and the relationship between art and science. Dr. Meinhardt is an accomplished illustrator, photographer, and artist, and regularly collaborates with UW-Green Bay Art faculty and area artists.

Bobbie Webster, Natural Areas Ecologist

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall 212
href="mailto:websterb@uwgb.edu">websterb@uwgb.edu 920.465.2030

Bobbie assists with the management of natural areas totaling over 1,200 acres, including the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, Point au Sable Nature Reserve, Toft Point Natural Area, Peninsula Sanctuary, Kingfisher Farm, and Lenfestey Courtyard. Working under the general supervision of the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Director and in collaboration with the Department of Facilities Management's Supervisor of Grounds, she coordinates invasive species control, trail maintenance, ecological restoration, biological monitoring, signage, and other activities consistent with management plans.  She also works with students, faculty, and volunteers on research projects and/or field trips conducted on the UW-Green Bay natural areas. She supervises the efforts of volunteer groups that support the management goals of UW-Green Bay natural areas.

Bobbie has considerable experience working in land management with previous positions with The Door County Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and WI DNR. She received both her M.S. in Natural Resources and her B.S. in Public Administration and Policy Analysis, Political Science, and Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point.

Keir Wefferling, Curator of Fewless Herbarium

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall 212
wefferlk@uwgb.edu 920.465.5032

Keir Wefferling is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural and Applied Sciences and Curator of the Gary A. Fewless Herbarium at the University of Wisconsin —Green Bay.

He recently completed a two-year Postdoctoral research fellowship—funded through a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology—studying reticulate polyploid evolution in ferns (specifically Pentagramma, Pteridaceae) with Carl Rothfels at the University of California, Berkeley.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he studied cytogeography and systematics of montane and alpine Caltha (Ranunculaceae) with Dr. Sara Hoot.