Cofrin Center for Biodiversity

Interim Director

Erin Giese (she/her/hers) is the Interim Director of the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity and has worked at the Cofrin Center since 2011. She oversees Center activities, students, and staff, the university’s six natural areas, the Richter Museum of Natural History, the Fewless Herbarium, and Cofrin Student Research Grant program. She is a principal investigator for the Great Lakes Coastal... Read more »

Camps & Outreach Coordinator

Samantha Betancur (she/her/hers) serves as the Camps and Outreach Coordinator. As the Coordinator, she works with faculty and surrounding community partners to create STEM-focused opportunities for the community to engage in. ​Samantha has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in animal behavior from Carroll University. She also has a Master of Arts in Biology with a... Read more »

Director Of Development

Jacob Depas (he/him/his) serves as the Director of Development at his alma mater. Jacob's efforts are dedicated to working with alumni, businesses, organizations, community leaders and individuals to secure private funding and partnerships to support university priorities. Jacob works closely with all University efforts especially within the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.... Read more »

Conservation Biologist

Andrew (he/him/his) is responsible for planning and implementing land stewardship activities and policies at UW-Green Bay Natural Areas, including the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, Point au Sable, Toft Point, Peninsula Sanctuary, Kingfisher Farm, Wequiock Creek and the Lenfestey Courtyard. Working in collaboration with the Natural Areas Ecologist and the Department of Facilities Management,... Read more »

Associate Professor and Richter Museum Curator

Dr. Meinhardt (he/him/his) teaches courses in human anatomy and physiology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, and evolutionary biology. Trained as an evolutionary anatomist, Dr. Meinhardt’s early research focused on miniaturization in frogs and some philosophical questions in evolutionary biology (e.g., Are species real?). Recently, he turned attention to the development of human... Read more »

Natural Areas Ecologist

Bobbie (she/her/hers) 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... Read more »

Assistant Professor & Herbarium Curator

Keir Wefferling (he/him/his) is the Curator of the Gary A. Fewless Herbarium in the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity and an Assistant Professor in Biology. He has been at UW-Green Bay since 2020 and teaches Field Botany and Plant Biodiversity. Most of Keir's work to date focuses on plant systematics: describing plant biodiversity and evolutionary relationships among lineages. Recently,... Read more »