Skimmer Says is brought to you by the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) Education Team! The DNERR discusses Delaware's rich environment, current research projects and how you can be involved.
Akshay is the Assistant Education Coordinator at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. His role is to develop lessons and programs for schools and the community, as well as think of engaging ways to deliver the research from DNERR to the public.
Laurel is the Education Coordinator at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. Her role is to coordinate public, K-12, and teacher education programs.
Sadie is the Community Engagement Specialist for the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. She works with the Education Team to conduct volunteer projects, host public events and create social media.
Audrey Hastings is a 2025 Graduate from Delaware Valley University with her Bachelor's degree in Conservation and Wildlife Management. As the Avian Education Intern she has enjoyed gaining hands on experience and sharing her love of birds with others. Audrey enjoys all aspects of the outdoors including horseback riding, birding, and fishing.
Christina Whiteman is the Stewardship Coordinator at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR). Her role involves implementing long-term biological monitoring efforts (wetland plant communities, ecotone boundaries, avian ecology, soundscapes), restoration planning, and understanding the history of the land and habitats within the DNERR through mapping and the use of demonstration sites.
Dr. Mollie Yacano is the Research Coordinator at the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve. Her role is to oversee the applied research and monitoring programs at the Reserve, which includes everything from the System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP), marsh bird surveys, emergent vegetation monitoring, and more. In addition to overseeing internal research, she works with external partners to coordinate projects using the living laboratories that are the St. Jones and Blackbird Creek Reserves.
Faye Desarro is a rising junior at Denison University and is majoring in data analytics with a minor in earth and environmental science. This summer she is working as the research intern at DNERR. When she's not working, she enjoys hiking, reading and knitting.
Jennifer Holmes serves as the Coastal Regulatory Programs Manager for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Coastal Programs. In this role, she works in conjunction with the regulatory team to implement the Coastal Zone Act and Federal Consistency programs. These programs assist in stewarding Delaware’s coastal zones for current and future generations by balancing uses and resources.
Kristi Lieske serves as the Ocean Planner for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Coastal Programs. In this role, she leads ocean planning efforts for the state, collaborating closely with local, state, and federal partners to develop and implement initiatives that address key ocean issues. Kristi plays an active role in the Regional Ocean Partnership, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO), a collaboration among Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia that establishes shared regional priorities to improve ocean health and support the region’s economic vitality and quality of life. Within MARCO, Kristi contributes to several work groups focused on critical topics such as marine debris, ocean conservation, and coastal recreation.
Taylor Beck is an Environmental Scientist for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Coastal Programs. Her role is to conduct research that satisfies the research needs of both the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) and the State of Delaware. These research projects include testing habitat enhancement methods, long-term monitoring of saltmarsh elevation change, and co-coordinating the annual horseshoe crab spawning surveys for three beaches in the Dover, DE area.