New Staff Join Mass Audubon Metro South
You may see some new faces on your next visit to a Mass Audubon Metro South sanctuary! We're thrilled to welcome these four new members to our amazing team of staff.
Jill Banach
Farm Manager, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Jill grew up in Massachusetts and fell in love with farming at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in the summer of 2017. She worked part of two seasons there as a fieldworker before moving to Colorado where she spent the summer as a culinary intern with Meadowlark Farm dinners. Jill then returned to Drumlin Farm as an Assistant Grower for two years; when she wasn't out in Boyce Field, Jill coordinated local restaurant deliveries, produce donations, a weekly farmers market, flower harvests, and maple sugaring.
Most recently, she has been farming in Washington state on the Olympic Peninsula. Jill is more than excited to return to her native state and continue working with Mass Audubon, where her love for farming began. She's looking forward to meeting Moose Hill’s farm community throughout the coming year!
Tessa Holleran
Education Coordinator, Mass Audubon Metro South
Tessa (she/her) is a recent graduate of Brandeis University with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies. Before her new role as Education Coordinator, she spent the last three summers at Mass Audubon's Museum of American Bird Art (MABA) as a camp counselor—simultaneously the most rewarding and exhausting summers of her life. Fondly considered a high-energy and "bubbly" type by her friends, our new Education Coordinator looks forward to bringing her limitless sense of excitement into her programs and learning new things along the way.
When she’s not studying up on her nature journaling technique or brainstorming future art projects, Tessa’s hobbies include birdwatching (a new one, thanks to Mass Audubon!), training with the animal ambassadors at Blue Hills Trailside Museum, and going on nature walks with her friends...only to stop every 10 steps to look at all the bugs she finds.
Laney Marcotte
Camp Director, Blue Hills Trailside Museum
Laney has extensive experience working with children of all ages. For the past 7 years, she has worked in outdoor education, summer camps—including 40-day backcountry camping trips—and environmental education programs all over the country. She has a Bachelor's in Biology from Bucknell University and a Master's in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University.
With her background in environmental education, she is a stellar addition to Blue Hills Nature Camp as well as the Metro South education department. She's excited to be back in Eastern Massachusetts, near her hometown of Attleboro.
Christine Rohrer
Operations Manager, Mass Audubon Metro South
Christine came from the New England Aquarium in Boston which had been her professional home for the last 16 years, most recently as the Director of Visitor Experience. Her work at the Aquarium was largely focused on the intersections of customer service and interpretation and developing a visitor experience that was safe, inspiring, and mission-focused. Christine's educational background is in Marine Science, and she got to spend a year in Scotland completing a Master's in Fisheries Science at the University of Aberdeen! She spent a lot of time at a shop in Edinburgh called "Thistle Do Nicely."
Lately, some of her favorite personal pastimes include genealogical research and reading every history book she can get her hands on. Christine is also a mom of three and visiting Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries has always been part of her family's nature time experience. She could not be more excited to be joining this wonderful community!