Center for Science Learning
Betty A. Dunckel, Ph.D.
Program Director/Associate Scientist
Phone: 352-273-2088
Email: bdunckel@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Betty received her B.S. from Cornell University and M.A.T. from the University of New Hampshire. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Florida in science education, with a specialization in informal education.
Experience: Betty has formed innovative partnerships and developed numerous programs that promote science interest, understanding, and engagement for diverse audiences. She also works with exhibit development, visitor research, and program evaluation. Betty has received federal, state, and foundation grants for her projects. She provides administrative oversight for all CSL programs and special projects.
Volunteer Program
Adult volunteers; junior volunteers; recruitment, orientation, reporting and recognition
Amy D. Hester
Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: (352) 273-2055
Email: ahester@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Amy received her B.S. from the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, with a minor in Zoology. She continued her education at UF, obtaining a Master’s of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
Experience: Amy began her career in science conducting fish surveys for the U.S. Geological Survey. She quickly learned that while she loves science, her real passion is imparting her enthusiasm for science and nature to others and fulfilled this passion as an environmental educator both domestically and internationally. Amy returned to her hometown in 2011 to work as the Florida Museum’s Volunteer Coordinator.
Florida Museum Projects: Volunteer orientations, volunteer newsletter, volunteer winter potluck, annual recognition reception, junior volunteer program, assist with ButterflyFest, Earth Day, and Collectors Day
Jennifer Hunzinger
Volunteer Program Assistant
Phone: (352) 273-2056
Email: jhunzinger@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Jennifer received her B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Business Administration with an emphasis on Organizational Behavior.
Experience: In 2010, Jennifer started working as the Florida Museum’s Volunteer Program Assistant. Previous experience includes roles as administrative assistant and exhibit coordinator at Children’s Museum of Illinois, and education coordinator and development director at Owensboro (KY) Museum of Science and History.
Florida Museum Projects: Support staff for Volunteer Program projects
School Programs
School tours, school outreach, teacher programs, curriculum resources, homeschool programs, docent program, adult tours, discovery carts
Dianne Behringer
School Programs Coordinator
Phone: (352) 273-2036
Email: dbehringer@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Dianne has a B.S. in Science Education from Virginia Tech and a M.S. degree in Marine Ecology from Old Dominion University.
Experience: Dianne has worked in education at the Florida Museum since 2007. Previous positions include Marine Extension Agent with UF IFAS/Florida Sea Grant, Natural Resource Specialist in Broward County, and high school science teacher.
Florida Museum Projects: All School Programs offerings.
Diane Milner
Education: Diane received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the Johannesburg College of Education in South Africa.
Experience: Diane taught fourth grade for ten years in South Africa, prior to relocating to the United States with her family in 2001. She volunteered at the Museum as a School Program Docent and has worked in education at the Florida Museum since 2004.
Florida Museum Projects: All School Programs offerings.
Public Programs
Annual events, exhibit openings, community outreach, summer and holiday camps, Scout programs, birthday parties
Catherine Ward Carey
Public Programs Coordinator
Phone: (352) 273-2064
Email: ccarey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Catherine has an Associate of Science in Zookeeping from Santa Fe College and Bachelor’s from UF’s Liberal Arts and Science Interdisciplinary Degree program.
Experience: Catherine previously worked in the Florida Museum’s Interpretation Department at Dickinson Hall. She returns to her museum roots after 25 years with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Education Department.
Florida Museum Projects: ButterflyFest coordination, public program development, assist with exhibit development
Amanda Erickson Harvey, MA, RPA
Education Assistant
Phone: (352) 273-2062
Email: aerickson@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Amanda received her B.A. from the University of Florida in Anthropology. She completed her M.A. in Public Archaeology, focusing on outreach and education for museums and archaeological sites, at University College London.
Experience: Amanda began working with the Florida Museum in the Historical Archaeology Collections during her undergraduate program. After working in cultural resource management throughout the U.S. and museums abroad, she returned to the Florida Museum to gain further experience and work with the public in informal science education.
Florida Museum Projects: Temporary exhibit openings and programming, Can You Dig It?, Starry Night,
ButterflyFest, Science Cafés, camps, Scout programs, intern program, community outreach
Tiffany Ireland
Education Assistant
Phone: (352) 273-2061
Email: tireland@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Tiffany earned her B.A. from the University of Florida in Family, Youth and Community Sciences with a specialization in Animal Sciences.
Experience: Tiffany first volunteered at the Florida Museum as a docent and became an employee in 2004. She previously volunteered with the University of Florida’s Veterinary Hospital’s Wildlife Center and the Treasure Coast Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Florida Museum Projects: Temporary exhibit openings and programming, Trashformations, Collectors Day, ButterflyFest, University of Florida’s Creative B program, camps, birthday parties, junior volunteers
Special Projects
Shari Ellis, Ph.D.
Project Director
Phone: (352) 273-2066
Email: shellis@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Shari received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Master’s and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Utah.
Experience: Shari has worked at the museum since 2004. Her time is distributed among program evaluation, curriculum and resource development, grant writing, and project management. She has held faculty appointments at a number of institutions where she taught courses in Developmental, Cognitive, and Experimental Psychology. She is an adjunct affiliate faculty member in the UF Department of Psychology.
Florida Museum Projects: PCP PIRE, iDigBio, AVATol, Marvelous Explorations through Science and Stories (early childhood science curriculum), Nature Viewing along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (phone app), Discovery Room
Dale Johnson
Project Director
Phone: (352) 273-2069
Email: dalej@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Dale has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Economics and a minor in Computer Science from the University of Central Florida. She also completed the Biological Illustration degree program at the University of Florida, combining biology, art and design.
Experience: Dale has worked at the Florida Museum since 1998, coordinating exhibit, design and technology projects. Previous positions include Production Manager at Synergy Design Group; Designer at Sparks Exhibits & Environments; and Branch Manager, Senior Loan Officer and Special Projects Manager at Walt Disney World.
Florida Museum Projects: Interpretive, interactive and visual design; technology projects; Explore Research; UF’s Water: Discovering & Sharing Solutions exhibition; Nature Viewing along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (phone app), Discovery Room
Peter Byatt
Videographer
Explore Research
Phone: (352) 273-2070
Email: pbyatt@flmnh.ufl.edu
Education: Peter graduated from UF with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education and Communication, and a minor in Leadership.
Experience: Peter is a co-founder of Pivotal Productions, LLC and has created videos for the Florida Alligator, UF and Florida Museum.
Florida Museum Projects: Interactive and technology projects, Explore Research