Where are they now? A Spotlight on our Previous Interns: Erin McGrady!

Today we’re taking the time to reflect on a previous intern, Erin McGrady!

Erin worked at Forfar from December 2001 to Spring 2003. At Forfar, she developed a love of teaching that carried on after she left Andros Island.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do when I arrived (at Forfar) but by the time I left, I felt called to teaching,” Erin told us. “After my internship, I went back to school to get my Masters and then taught middle school Physical Education for ten years. I'm no longer teaching but the adventure/eco-tourism aspect is still a big part of my life as a freelance writer and photographer living in a van.” We’re glad that Forfar spurred her interest in education.

Erin says her time at Forfar gave her professional experience she used in her teaching career afterwards. Forfar taught her how to think on the fly, develop public speaking skills, working with many different people, and more. Erin also created connections to people on Forfar that still last to this day. She told us that the friendships she made were her favorite thing about her internship.

Erin has worked as a middle school PE teacher, a website designer, and a coach after she left Forfar. She still clearly loves adventuring, as she is currently traveling the country in a van with her wife. They run a blog about their adventures and are based out of Asheville, North Carolina. Their blog discusses Asheville and what to do, see, and play there. They also write about the National Parks, which Erin calls “some of our favorite playgrounds.” Right now, Erin and her wife are finishing up an assignment as Nation’s Vacation Ambassadors for Aramak.

In her free time, Erin likes to surf, stand-up paddleboard, ride bikes, and trail run. She also enjoys finding new ramen restaurants and cool murals, and trying to find the perfect IPA.

We wish Erin many happy trails as she explores the United States! Have fun!

Where are they now? A Spotlight on Previous Interns - Tami LaPilusa!

Today, we are excited to introduce the lovely and accomplished Tami LaPilusa!

Jason Morrison, Tami (Ohlin) LaPilusa, Earl the dog, and Matt LaPilusa (yes, they got married!)

Tami worked as an intern at Forfar field station from September 1996 to June 1998. Her ties to Forfar and IFS are still strong today.  Tami conducts research which started with her graduate degree and continues in her current faculty position at SUNY Oneonta. Her research emphasizes conservation and sustainable management for crab species in the Bahamas, including the Christmas Island blue crab, Discoplax celeste, and the blue land crab, Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille.

She recently presented her research at the Bahamas Natural History Conference in 2016 and 2018. 

Watch her presentation from 2016 here: Crab Pen Survey & Harvest Analysis of the Land Crab

During her internship at Forfar, Tami emphasized the skills she learned, from flexibility, adaptability, public speaking, SCUBA, watercraft operations & maintenance, to the ability to work collaboratively with others who may not share her views. She fondly recalls her relationship with local community members and the lasting friendships amongst her fellow interns.

Since her internship, Tami has held leadership positions in many organizations including her role as program director for the Boys and Girls Club. She was also the office manager for IFS at the Florida office. Currently, she is on the biology faculty at SUNY Oneonta.

In her free time, she continues to travel to different islands in The Bahamas. Her hobbies include beach exploration, hiking, and camping. 

IFS loves working in collaboration with Tami, and we are excited to share her research with you! Follow the link below to learn more about Tami's work:

Tami LaPilusa, Erratum to: Characterization of microsatellite markers from the commodity species Cardisoma guanhumi Latreille and the Christmas Island blue crab (Discoplax celeste)

Click on the images to scroll through!

Where are they now? A Spotlight on our Previous Interns - Carolyn Belak!

In this week's spotlight, we are catching up with the incredible Carolyn Belak!

Carolyn lived and worked on Forfar Field Station from April 2014 to January 2016. During her time on Andros Island, Carolyn found her true passion - marine invertebrates! She expressed the importance of field studies for students, saying "My time with students from the middle of the country also taught me the power of experiential learning, something that I'd like to incorporate in any job in the future."

Currently, Carolyn is pursuing her Master's degree at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Check out her published paper on a queen conch, Lobatus gigas, population in a marine protected area here!

Before returning to school, Carolyn worked for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and also as a dive instructor at a shop in the Bay Area. She has had the opportunity to volunteer on a number of research trips, studying Nassau grouper and queen conch in the Bahamas, as well as plankton distributions off the coast of California.

Diving is Carolyn's passion! She told us, "I've been lucky enough to have traveled back to the Bahamas for conch work (warm water!) but have loved traversing through the kelp forests in Monterey, San Diego, and the San Juan islands. I also like to explore the local redwoods and other hikes too!"

As she reflected warmly on her time at Forfar, ("Everyday was an adventure!") we can't thank Carolyn enough for her passion and positivity during her Forfar days, and we wish her the best of luck pursuing her degree and living the adventures of life to the fullest! Cheers, Carolyn!

Where are they now? An update on our previous intern - Tyler Steube!

It has been a few years since we last caught up with our previous intern, Tyler Stueube, so we thought we would check back in and see what he has been doing lately.

We last caught up in 2018, what have you been doing since?

Since my last update, I have made a career change. Following the pandemic, I moved back to central Ohio and now work as a high school science teacher.

Where are you teaching?

Currently I work for Teays Valley HS in Pickaway County.

Tyler lived at Forfar Field Station from December 2015 to July 2016. During his time there, he strengthened his communication and leadership skills while leading and interacting with students, teachers and researchers. We asked Tyler, how did the Forfar internship benefit you in your current job or your future career goals?

"I was fortunate to have boating and diving experience when beginning my internship. However, this starting knowledge was greatly enhanced at Forfar. This included boat knowledge, operation, maneuvering, and engine maintenance. North Andros is a remote island far from any marine part stores. Being a professional means safety always takes priority. Knowing how to prepare and react to boating issues while still leading and assuring a group is the most important professional skill I gained at Forfar. Others include confidence in leading water excursions and species identification."

Forfar Field Station truly benefitted from Tyler's positive attitude, hard work ethic, and growth as a young professional. His confidence and skills enhance the purpose and importance of the IFS' mission - experiential environmental education!

Since leaving Forfar, Tyler enrolled in a Master's Degree at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi and graduated May 2018. Now he works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in St. Petersburg, on their Fisheries Independent Monitoring program. In his free time, he enjoys beachcombing and camping along the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, and articulating fish skeletons for his ichthyology class. In the photos below, you'll see him and his dad fishing near South Andros!

What do you love about your new teaching job?

Although I miss the coastal life (especially in the cold Ohio winter!) I enjoy teaching in the classroom. Education has always been a priority in my life and I enjoy mentoring young adults.

"My internship at Forfar allowed me to develop both as a biological technician and a leader. As a teaching assistant and a graduate student, the ability to be a dynamic speaker and maximize audience engagement is paramount. From my time at the field station, I strengthened these abilities daily. Other leadership skills occurred from collaborating with group leaders and the station director. Having an open line of communication helps everyone involved, and in time I came to anticipate group requests which allowed myself and Forfar to exceed expectations. Now as a graduate student, speaking and connecting to others from a variety of backgrounds happens every day. Making the most of those interactions has been greatly enhanced by my time at Forfar."

When reflecting on the professional skills he gained from his internship, Tyler stated: