Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary OUR PEOPLE

Patricia Delgado, Superintendent & Wetland Ecologist

rpdelg88@aacounty.org

410.222.7818

Academic and Professional Credentials

BS Marine Biology, M.S. and Ph.D. Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

Belief Statement

The power of developing a connection with nature to become forever a steward for the environment.

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

Patricia enjoys hiking, biking, reading a good book, and traveling to discover new places.

Patricia has conducted wetland research for over 25 years and has never tired of learning about these magnificent places. As a scientist, she believes in the important role of science in supporting education, resource conservation and management. At the Sanctuary, she is eager to promote environmental education, stewardship, research, citizen science, and science communication to our visitors, while also providing a protected environment for public enjoyment. Patricia received a B.S. in Marine Biology from Universidad Nacional de Heredia (Costa Rica) and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences from Louisiana State University.

Liana Vitali, Stewardship & Citizen Science Coordinator

rpvita23@aacounty.org

410.222.7810

Academic and Professional Credentials

BS Biology, MS Zoology

Belief Statement

Liana believes wholeheartedly in the power of nature to foster profound experiences in each of us that can serve to unlock our potential and authentic selves.

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

Liana loves, actually needs to be outside as much as possible. She values quality time spent in nature whether it's hiking a new trail with her pup, Willow, road-tripping to explore a new town, or sitting outside on a beautiful morning with family, friends, and a hot cup of coffee.

Through inspiring and meaningful outdoor experiences, Liana strives to help each visitor create a strong and lasting connection to the natural world. Liana leads our Citizen Science and Stewardship programs and loves to empower volunteers and aspiring Naturalists to lead scientific and preservation efforts here at the Sanctuary. Additionally, she is an adjunct faculty member at the Miami University of Ohio teaching in the Global Field Masters Program in Baja, Mexico, and Belize. In 2019, Liana was the recipient of the Jan Hollmann Environmental Education Award. She earned her BS in Biology & Ecology at Penn State University and her Master's in Zoology through the Global Field Program of the Miami University of Ohio.

Emilie Lahneman, Management Assistant

rplahn25@aacounty.org

410.222.0513

Academic and Professional Credentials

BS Geographical Sciences, MPP in Environmental Policy

Belief Statement

Preserving the balance between public recreation and wildlife conservation is crucial to safeguarding our natural world and fostering connections between local communities and the environment. "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." - Aldo Leopold, Land Ethic

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

Emilie is a South County local. She grew up on a small horse farm in Tracy’s Landing, where she learned to love the land around her. Her summers were spent playing in Lyons Creek, horseback riding, or helping her mom out in the veggie garden. Her summers are not much different now, as she still loves hiking, camping, horseback riding, cooking with the vegetables from her garden, and spending time with her dog, Rosie.

Her love of the environment took her to college in Florida and Maryland, and she spent summers working in Yellowstone National Park as a dock hand at the lake marina. Following graduation, Emilie spent a year with a watershed nonprofit as a member of Montana’s Big Sky Watershed Corps. There she learned about stream restoration, partnering with local landowners, and the overall importance of community-based conservation. She brought this knowledge with her to Chesapeake Conservancy, where she helped with communications and development on watershed-wide initiatives. Emilie is a proud double Terp; she received a B.S. in Geographical Sciences, with a focus in Earth Systems and Natural Resources, and a Master of Public Policy with a focus in Climate and Environmental Policy from the University of Maryland.

Vicki Peterson, Office Manager

rppete23 @aacounty.org

410.222.8006

Academic and Professional Credentials

B.A. Journalism, UMCP, MAT Notre Dame of Maryland University

Belief Statement

In any relationship, to take more than we give is not only unwise, it is unsustainable.

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

During the pandemic, when food items became scarce on grocery store shelves, she put her interest in self-sufficiency to work in her own backyard, sharing the bounty with family and friends. Her son raised chickens, and she grew tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, green beans, tomatillos, and more.

Last year, she planted two apple trees and is turning her focus to landscaping with food. Why can't a yard be beautiful and practical?

She has lived in a local Bayside community for nearly 30 years and can often be found walking her dog, BG, along the waterfront.

Beth Sieglinger, Education Coordinator & Naturalist

rpsieg21@aacounty.org

410.222.7811

Academic and Professional Credentials

BS Animal Science, MA Biology, AACo. Watershed Steward, Master Naturalist, Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (level I)

Belief Statement

“No one will protect what they don't care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced” - David Attenborough

Humans are not separate from nature and we depend on nature for many unseen things like clean water and air. Therefore, it is our responsibility to be good stewards and protect what we can. But to do so, we must first experience and appreciate nature in all forms.

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

Beth enjoys photography, native plant gardening, and animals.

Beth’s initial career plan was to become a big cat zookeeper. That goal quickly changed after discovering the joys of teaching. With a new purpose, she pursued her teaching certifications in Biology and Special Education and happily taught at the middle school level for over 8 years. After a hiatus to raise her two boys and travel the world with her military husband, Beth went back to school to hone her passion for the environment. Now, Beth teaches all who will listen about the importance of our natural world and strives to educate them on the importance of native plants and building and protecting our ecosystems.

Beth earned her BS in Small Animal Science from Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania and her MA in Biology through the Advanced Inquiry Program from Miami University in Ohio. She is a Master Watershed Steward in Anne Arundel County, has her level 1 certification as a Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional, is a Master Naturalist, and is soon to be a certified Pollinator Steward through Pollinator Partnership.

Debra Gage, Volunteer & Program Coordinator

rpgage00@aacounty.org

410.222.7806

Academic and Professional Credentials

BA in Psychology & Social Work, Anne Arundel County Watershed Steward, Maryland Master Naturalist, Maryland Woodland Steward, and ACA Certified Canoe Instructor

Belief Statement

Nature cannot continue to offer its bounty without thoughtful stewardship. Connecting people to nature is key. Nature heals the soul.

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

Debra loves being outdoors gardening, hiking, camping, paddling, and cycling.

Debra recruits, trains, supports, and recognizes Jug Bay's vital volunteer program, including collecting and analyzing volunteer data. She works closely with volunteers and staff to plan, coordinate, support, and analyze Jug Bay programs. Debra has lived and worked in the Patuxent River watershed for over 15 years, and has developed a real love for the river. As an American Canoe Association (ACA) certified canoe instructor, Debra aspires to connect visitors to Jug Bay and the Patuxent River through wetland canoe/kayak trips and public education programs, in hopes of fostering appreciation and protection for these valuable resources.

Debra received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Social Work from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. In 2009 she changed focus to follow her passion to learn more about our natural world and environmental concerns.

Nicholas "Nic" Anderson, Park Ranger & Naturalist

rpande25@aacounty.org

Duty Phone 443.758.7849

Academic and Professional Credentials

B.A, History, Morgan State University; M.A., History, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

Nic is joining the team as our full-time park ranger. He was born and raised in California and moved to Maryland for his undergraduate education.

He has always had a passion for community service and a true love for the environment. That led him to work in parks. Nic started his parks career in Baltimore County as a naturalist for the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum and served there for almost two years. He’s excited to continue his career serving as a park ranger for Anne Arundel County at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary.

Gregory Imhoff, Seasonal Ranger

XXXXXX@aacounty.org

Duty Phone 443.758.7849

Coming Soon.....

Dave Linthicum, Cartographer & Naturalist

rplint25@aacounty.org

410.222.8006

Dave joins the staff as a “utility” person. At the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Geographer for more than 20 years, Dave recovered precise alignments for the world’s 325 international boundaries. These alignments are used by all U.S. government mappers (and often by Google Maps, etc.). He develops maps for his sport of orienteering, parks, scouts, and environmental /water access nonprofit organizations. For example, his detailed “Patuxent River Water Trail Map” is available for sale at the Jug Bay Visitor’s Center, and all proceeds go to the Friends.

Since 1977, Dave has coordinated an annual event that has taught orienteering to more than 22,000 scouts. He’s been on faculty and/or the hiking director for Conservation/Family Nature Summits since 1983.

Dave and his partner of over 30 years, Peggy Brosnan, have gone to 60 nations, including 14 Greater Himalayan trips and 14 treks to 16,000 to 20,000+ feet. He has also enjoyed kayaking (in northwest Iceland and Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada, where he was bumped by adult humpback whales). For 24 years, they have lived and paddled on the whale-free Patuxent River. Dave has volunteered at Jug Bay since 1990; he won the Jug Bay Award in 2000.

Cecilia Bowers, Summer Camp Counselor

rpbowe25@aacounty.org

410.222.8006

Coming Soon.....

David Rose, Maintenance Worker

rprose22@aacounty.org

Academic and Professional Credentials

B.S., Biology, Salisbury University

Personal Interests/Anecdotes

David is a resident of West River, Maryland. David worked as a Park Ranger at the Breezy Point Beach and Campground in Calvert County for more than three years. David joined the Jug Bay maintenance team in the fall of 2019.

Carl Brown III, Maintenance Worker

One of 10 children, Carl was born at home and raised in Anne Arundel County.

Carl is a United States Marine Corps veteran and a State Highway Administration retiree. His daughter works for the Department of Natural Resources, and his grandson is a Capitol Hill police officer.

He joined us at Jug Bay because he likes to be outdoors. "There's no limits on living in the fresh air and being at one with nature!" he said.