Meet our Preserve Staff
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Chris Bedel, Preserve Director Education B.F.A Fine Arts, 1985 I have been with Museum Center since 1985. I started out in the Exhibits Department as an exhibit designer before moving to the Edge in 1992, to assume the Preserve Director role in 1992. My professional interests are biodiversity cataloging and natural area management. I direct stewardship activities, share ecological management of the preserve with The Nature Conservancy, and facilitate visiting researcher efforts at the preserve. In 2005, I began a comprehensive biological inventory of understudied organisms on preserve lands with staff, and visiting scientists. The educational arm of this effort is the Advanced Naturalist Workshop Series. The series brings visiting scientists to the preserve to teach average citizens identification/ecology of Ohio flora/fauna and, in most cases, to conduct the first survey on the preserve for the group being studied. I also oversee management of the preserve’s natural history collections, such as the EOA Reference Herbarium. My vocation and avocation is learning identification and ecology of eastern woods inhabitants. From freshwater mussels to land snails to lichens, I am dedicated to learning more about the biodiversity of the preserve and beyond. |
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Eric Davenport, Chief Naturalist Education Associate in Science, Southern State Community College, 2000 After receiving my Bachelor's degree, I began adjunct teaching at Southern State Community College. Over the 10-year span with the college, I instructed various courses, including physical geology, physical science, environmental science and human biology. I expanded my college teaching career to include Chatfield College, where I taught environmental science, ecology and sustainable energy. I worked as a seasonal ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers for two seasons and have presented many programs as a volunteer for organizations such as Cincinnati Nature Center and the Ohio Historical Society. I also organize one of the largest native amphibian and reptile programs in the region in partnership with the Army Corps because herps are my passion and environmental education is where my heart is. I have lived in Adams County my entire life and I have witnessed many of the biological marvels that can be found here. It is an amazing place. As the Chief Naturalist at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve, I have a unique opportunity to share knowledge with fourth through eighth grade students in the Adams County schools. Through field classes, in-classroom programs and summer Science Camps, kids experience more than just plant and animal identification. I like to guide the students’ focus to the little things that most people walk past, such as land snails, camouflaged caterpillars and freshwater mussels. I enjoy getting kids excited about science, provoking questions, and dispelling myths. |
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Mark Zloba, Ecological Manager Education I first joined the Edge staff in 1995 as a Seasonal Naturalist, and later became a full-time Environmental Educator. In my current role as Ecological Manager my responsibilities include: educational programs, land management, managing collections and identification of flora and fauna (specifically lichens, spiders, land snails, insects, reptiles, amphibians and birds). I am a member and contributor to the Ohio Ornithological Society, Ohio Moss and Lichen Association, Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas, USGS Breeding Bird Survey and the Ohio Frog and Toad Survey. |
