our 2010 staff

Sheryl Christy Gilmore is the Executive Director and Owner of AIO and is beginning her 27th season. For 15 years, Sherry taught and directed environmental education programs in southern Maine. She received her B.A. & teaching certification from Kalamazoo College in Michigan. Other experiences include classroom teaching, teacher training and teaching marine biology, navigation and sailing on Puget Sound. Sherry has taught marine science in the local schools, written curriculum for classroom teachers and taught the NWF’s CLASS Project. She is PADI certified and runs AIO’s Jamaica, Belize, Bermuda and Florida programs. Her interests include marine mammals, coastal ecology, music and her family.

 

Jim Gilmore, Associate Director/Owner of AIO, is Associate Professor of Screen Studies at the University of Michigan- Dearborn. Jim works mostly behind the scenes in the summer with advertising & administration. He holds a B.A. from Kalamazoo College and M.A. from the University of Iowa in Film. Jim is an award winning documentary filmmaker and the President of Acadia Pictures. He is currently filming a documentary project focusing on Detroit’s alternative economy. Other recent projects have included videos for Tamoka State Park, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and the documentary “Saving Face.”

 

Kathy Dubbs returns as the AIO Co-Director for her 22nd summer. With a B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College in Michigan and a M.S. in Geology from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, Kathy is currently teaching Geology and Oceanography at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. She has spent several years teaching marine studies and env. education in a variety of ecosystems. Previously a teacher/ program director for an environmental center in New England as well as an instructor of tropical marine ecology in Florida, Kathy also teaches in the Jamaica, Belize, Bermuda and Florida programs. She is also PADI & Life Guard certified. Her interests include hiking, running, birding and wildlife conservation. Each spring, she and her husband, Tim, volunteer for the National Park Service patrolling for nesting sea turtles along the Texas Gulf Coast.

 

Timothy Dubbs is joining us for his 16th summer as the Co-Director. He has a B.S. in Environmental Geology from the U. of Mississippi, a M.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Anthropology from the U. of Texas, Dallas. Tim has taught and directed in science field programs in New York and Texas. He is currently a core teacher at Houston's ISD's Outdoor Education Center where he has spent nearly 20 years. Additionally, he has been a classroom science teacher within the Texas public school system. Tim devotes much time and effort to environmental issues including sea turtle conservation and wilderness preservation. He has research experience in alpine ecology at UTD field camp in Colorado, habitat survey and restoration in Wyoming and has studied at the Black Hills geology field camp. With an interest in mountaineering, he has completed successful ascents of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Aconcagua in the Argentine Andes. He is a PADI certified scuba diver and a YMCA trained lifeguard. Tim is a blues music aficionado, has skydiving experience, and also has interest in flying in historic aircraft and auto racing.

 

Peter Mortensen has a Masters Degree in Anthropology and Quaternary Paleoecology from the Univ. of Minnesota. In addition to teaching at AIO for 11 summers, he is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Earth Science at Richland Community College in Decatur, IL. Between graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1992 and entering graduate school at the University of Minnesota in 2000, Peter worked at organizations such as the Deep Portage Conservation Reserve in Minnesota, the Dahlem Env. Ed. Center in Michigan, the Desert Sun Science Center in California and the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School in Oregon. Peter has an extensive background in emergency medicine and rescue, having worked as an EMT and as on-site medic for outdoor education programs, where he also trained wilderness trip leaders in first aid and emergency care. Peter has participated in archaeological excavations in both the U.S. and the Czech Republic and, last summer, spent several weeks in Siberia, working on the Great Baikal Trail around Lake Baikal (the oldest and deepest freshwater lake on Earth).

 

Chandra Salvetti is joining us for her 17th summer. She has been with us every summer but one since she was a student here! She is a graduate of John A. Logan College in Il., where she majored in Sociology and Biology. Besides teaching environmental education in New England for three years, she also taught special education in Northeast Harbor and managed a childcare room in a Roseville, MI facility. Chandra has worked in the AIO Florida Career Seminar, taught in the Delta Co-op school system in Indiana, worked as a nanny in Maryland and is in her 3rd year as the Director of the YMCA afterschool program in Bar Harbor. We also welcome Marco Salvetti, born to Chandra on April 21, 2010. Congratulations! Chandra has her first aid, CPR and Life Guard certifications.

 

Matt Lubicky will return for his 7th. He has studied Cambridge University in England and also participated in SEA at Woods Hole, spending one month in coursework and one month sailing from Honolulu to San Francisco. Matt has a BA and BS from UNH with degrees in English and Marine/Freshwater Biology, respectively. He has conducted research on the Atlantic Cod stock in the Gulf of Maine and is very interested in freshwater zooplankton. Matt has worked for the AIO Florida Career Seminar and as a substitute teacher for the Rochester, NH. This fall he will begin working towards a Masters of Arts in English looking. In his free time, Matt enjoys Ultimate Frisbee, photography, running, reading, writing, and listening to music.

 

Alison Kelly is returning to AIO for her 5th summer. She graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Biology and her M.S. in Science Education from Hofstra University. To say that Alison loves travel is an understatement! She has been to France, New Zealand, Hawaii, Bermuda, Jamaica and Peru on an Ecological Field Studies program. Besides her summers, she has also taught in the AIO Belize program. She and David Knuffke – also a former staff member (and their hairless cat) have recently moved to Long Island where she’ll be teaching next year.

Becky Reese will be joining us for her 5th summer as well at AIO. Becky is a graduate of Texas A & M with a degree in Recreation Park and Tourism Sciences. She has been a science lab teacher at Browning Elementary School in Houston but will move to a new school in the fall. Becky spent several years in environmental education with middle and high school students, four of those at Houston ISD Outdoor Education Center. Becky recently traveled to Peru because she loves to backpack, hike, bike and paddle. She’s looking forward to escaping the Texas heat for the Maine coast!

 

Rita Salinas will join us for her second summer for the first 2 sessions at AIO. Rita has her B.A. from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas in Spanish and kinesiology. She currently teaches upper level Spanish classes and coaches several sports. She also acts as the district translator. Rita spent five years as a teacher at Houston ISD Outdoor Education Center in Texas. A few summers were spent working for the scouts as a Nature Director and Group leader in California and New Mexico. Bilingual in Spanish and English, her interests include hiking, running, snowboarding, photography and travel. Welcome, Rita!

 

Nathaniel Jillette is returning as a member of the teaching staff this year after working as an intern last summer. He is now a graduate of the University of Maine with a BA in biology and a BS in Marine Biology and a minor in chemistry. Nate spent three summers at the prestigious Mt. Desert Island Biological Lab as an undergraduate molecular biomedical research assistant in Salisbury Cove, Maine. He hopes to begin his graduate work soon to explore his interest in marine models for biomedical genetics. Besides his additional work at the University as a research assistant, Nate is a certified Lifeguard, in advanced open water SCUBA and has been trained in marine mammal rescue. Nate’s hobbies include photography, hiking, swimming and most sports.

 

Kelley Stephens joins our staff this year fresh from her work in California teaching Marine Science and Island Ecology. Kelley has her B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. Prior to the two and a half years she has spent working our west, she was and instructor at Harbor Discoveries through the New England Aquarium, a volunteer with Ocean Conservancy, a research assistant with various dolphin projects in Florida and New Zealand, spent a summer at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and sailed from Boston to the Virgin Islands over a three month period with the Ocean Classrooms Foundation. Kelley is also a certified Lifeguard and diver.

 

Megan Begley is a graduate of the University of Maine, Machias with a B.S. in Marine Biology and she joins us for the first time this summer. Megan worked as an instructor at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute where she worked with school groups teaching about the ecology of southern Florida. During college, Megan spent a couple of summers working in Alaska as an Interpreter at the Alaska SeaLife Center and collecting data for the National Marine Fishery Service and NOAA on fishing vessels. Megan is also a certified PADI diver and Lifeguard, and her outside interests include the theatre and belly dancing!

 

Sarah Langley also joins us for her first summer at AIO. Sarah graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a B.S. in Biological Science and spent much her time working local middle school students in physical science as well as developed a research proposal for the conservation and protection of endangered Southern sea otters from parasites. For the past year, Sarah has worked for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida where she cared for live exhibits, gave interpretive tours and informed residents and visitors of the issues impacting Florida. Her prior two summers were spent with the Sandia National Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Center in the Science Teacher and Researcher Programs.

 

Michael Kennedy is a recent graduate of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania where he received his B.S. in Physics with a minor in Math. Michael joins the likes of Chandra Salvetti, Matt Lubicky, Alison Kelly, Nate Jillette and all of the interns as former students who are now teaching staff! He plans to gain more teaching experience from AIO this year since he enjoyed his time as an Adolescent Supervisor at the Boys and Girls Club in Massachusetts.

Tamara Franks returns after a year off to work as our cook for the summer. She has a varied and interesting background with a M.A. in Recreation Resource Management/Outdoor Education and a Master of Divinity. In fact, she was recently ordained. She worked for Houston's ISD's Outdoor Education Center and is a challenge course instructor and trainer. She’s looking forward to returning to Maine to prepare you some great meals and be inspired by the beautiful coastline. It will help her write her book!

 

Robert Shea, RN, BSN will be our nurse for the majority of the summer. Bob spent several years working in the hotel industry until an unexpected turn lead him to become an EMT and, eventually, a Registered Nurse. Since he has become and RN, he as worked in hospitals but mostly as a school nurse. Bob is currently the administrator for 4 school clinics in Lee County, FL. When he’s not working, Bob is a Blue’s musician, plays in a popular local band and is the President of the Acoustic Music Society of Southwest Florida. He is also a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Bob will take care of all of your medical needs this summer.

 

Ann Cunliffe-Martin RN will join us for the last session of the summer when Bob has to return to the early starting Florida schools. Ann has been a nurse for 20 years with degrees from College of New Jersey and Temple University. She spent 3 years as a Clinical Staff nurse for the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in Berlin, Germany (and she is fluent in German… and Danish). After returning from Germany, she has spent most of her time working in college health centers at Rider University and Princeton University. She is currently at the Hun School of Princeton.

 

We are also joined by 3 former students as interns this summer. Amanda Nichols is a junior at Oberlin College in Ohio where she studies Politics and Environmental Studies. Amanda has been very busy campaigning for support of interests important to her, including climate change, homelessness and healthcare. In her free time, Amanda likes to bake, go to concerts and participate in triathlons. Chris Curran is a sophomore at Eckerd College, studying Marine Biology with a concentration in biochemistry. Chris can also speak, read and write Latin and Japanese. Finally, Chris Cayo (or CJ as many of us call him) has attended more of the outside Maine AIO programs than anyone. He lives in Florida in the summer and Colorado in the winter so he can partake in two of his favorite past times: diving and skiing. He has worked with injured youth for several years.