Author: Allison Dodson

Mindy Babitz

MINDY BABITZ

Data Management Specialist, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Mindy is a data management specialist working in the registrar’s office at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, where she helps manage records on all of the animals and biomaterials in NZCBI’s care. She previously worked as an animal caregiver for more than two decades with a variety of species including bears, big cats, primates, and small carnivores. With a Ph.D. in psychology focused on animal behavior and cognition, she has conducted behavioral and cognitive research with bears in an effort to improve their management in zoos. Mindy consults with a variety of NGOs, accredited and non-accredited zoos around the world, and state animal law enforcement to help assess animal welfare issues and educate caregivers on proper husbandry for bears and other species. Mindy is the vice president of the Bear Care Group, an international non-profit whose mission is to foster improvements in global bear welfare. She is also the studbook keeper for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) sun bear population, and a member of AZA’s Bear Taxon Advisory Group Steering Committee.

Elisabeth (Betsy) Herrelko

ELIZABETH (BETSY) HERRELKO

WELFARE AND RESEARCH MANAGER, SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL ZOO AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE

Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Herrelko is the Animal Welfare and Research Manager at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. She focuses on advancing animal welfare science with an emphasis on animal management and how animals think. Betsy leads the Animal Welfare and Animal Care and Use Committees to ensure compliance with regulations and facilitate best practices for all species at the zoo, is responsible for overseeing research within Animal Care Sciences, and consults across animal care units on applied practices. She joined the Zoo in 2012 as the David Bohnett Cognitive Research Fellow studying cognitive bias (a measure of emotional affect) in apes. Prior to the Smithsonian, Betsy earned her master’s degree from Hunter College (New York) and her PhD from the University of Stirling (Scotland). In addition to traditional dissemination of information methods in academia, Betsy also communicates her science story through natural history documentaries. Her work with primates has been featured on the BBC, Animal Planet, and Discovery Channel.

Courtney Gordon

COURTNEY GORDON

Junior Faculty Advisor, WYSE Alum 2022

Courtney is a rising Junior at George Mason University pursuing a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Conservation and Sustainability. She credits WYSE for sparking her passion for environmental sustainability. Outside of school, Courtney thoroughly enjoys watching and rating rom-coms/romantic dramas from the 1980s-2010s; she has a book dedicated to rating these movies. She is ecstatic to give the WYSE Youth Delegates of 2025 the same life changing experience that the program gave to her three years ago.

Faith Fulton

FAITH FULTON

Junior Faculty Advisor, WYSE Alum 2023

Faith is currently a rising sophomore at Shepherd University majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. She has a passion for animals and enjoys being outside. Faith
can’t wait to work with all the students this summer!

Josephine Santanello

JOSEPHINE SANTANELLO

Junior Faculty Advisor, WYSE Alum 2022

Josephine is from Staten Island, New York and is a rising sophomore at Adelphi
University. She is pursuing environmental science, intending to pick up a minor in
biology and graduate with her bachelor’s degree. WYSE is what inspired Josephine
to pursue environmentalism. From a young age, she has always been so passionate
about nature, and in her free time, she enjoys traveling, thrifting, making art, and
reading. Josephine is so excited to be welcomed back into WYSE!

Lori Williams

LORI WILLIAMS

Junior Faculty Advisor, WYSE Alum 2023

Lori is a rising sophomore at the College of William and Mary from Charlotte, NC. She plans to double major in Environmental Sustainability and Public Policy. Her passion for the environment strengthened at WYSE, and her favorite memories from WYSE include her field visit to Skyline Caverns and exploring D.C. She aspires to pursue a career in environmental policy and justice. At school, she is part of the compost club and Greek life and enjoys spending time outdoors. She loves reading, painting, and traveling to National Parks. Lori is excited to return to WYSE!

Dr. Esther Peters

DR. ESTHER PETERS

Associate Professor, George Mason University

Dr. Peters’ expertise includes marine biology, coral reef ecology, aquatic toxicology, comparative histopathology, and quality assurance. Following postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Institution on coral taxonomy and invertebrate diseases, she worked at Tetra Tech, Inc., an environmental consulting company. She teaches courses in histology and histotechniques at the undergraduate and graduate level, and developed a 2-semester course sequence to present basic biology and chemistry to non-biology graduate students in the environmental science and policy program. She has also taught courses on diseases of organisms, and provides training in the histology and histopathology of corals. Dr. Peters collaborates with other professors on understanding the molecular and microbiological aspects of invertebrates and disease processes through the study of cell and tissue alterations as a bridge to understanding population, community, and ecosystem consequences. She works with graduate students on diverse pathobiology research topics and manages the Histology Laboratory, training undergraduate and graduate students in the use of histological tools for their ecological and biomedical research.

Hannarose Schiano

HANNAROSE SCHIANO

Junior Faculty Advisor, Photography

Hannarose is a rising sophomore at the University of North Georgia, where she works for the Nighthawk Sports Network and contributes to The Vanguard, the university’s student newspaper. She is pursuing a degree in Communications with a concentration in Multimedia Journalism. In 2023, she attended the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University. Hannarose is thrilled to return to Washington, D.C., and be part of the team this summer!

Rachel Ickowitz

RACHEL ICKOWITZ

Rachel is a rising junior from Knoxville, Tennessee majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Inequality and Social Change at George Mason University. On campus, Rachel is involved in the University Scholars Program, the Next System Fellows Program, the Next Constitutions Research Lab, CHSS Ambassadors, Chi Omega Fraternity, Order of Omega, and the Sociology Ambassadors program. She also works as a Telecounselor for the Office of Admissions, supporting prospective students through the application process! After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies and is especially interested in advancing social change through the study and design of equitable systems.

Abigail Dotson

ABIGAIL DOTSON

Intern, WYSE Alum 2024

Abigail is a junior at Charleston Catholic High School in Charleston, West Virginia. She
participates in Quizbowl, the Science Olympiad, and both school and travel volleyball.
She first began appreciating the environment while studying ecosystems in school
and loving their complexities. Her experience with WYSE in 2024 only reinforced her
love of the natural world and its inhabitants, and she is honored to be able to help
the program! She hopes to graduate high school in 2026 and go to college to
manage the financial aspect of the movement to help the environment!

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TUITION & CREDIT