The Crew: Mark McGinley

I just finished my 20th year as a professor in the Honors College and Department of Biological Sciences at Texas Tech University.  My training is in ecology, but recently my interests have focused on science education and environmental education.  I work as an author and editor at the Encyclopedia of Earth and I have written a number of articles about the common reef fish in the Caribbean.

I have taught Tropical Marine Biology in Jamaica, Belize, the British Islands, and the windward Islands of the Caribbean (this will by my fourth trip to TREC).  I am excited to be leading a group of students from the MS Squared program on this research trip!

The Crew: Jose Olivencia

"Hi there! I'm Jose, and I am a 5th grade science teacher in Duncanville, TX.  I am proud to be a graduate student in the MS2 (Multidisciplinary Science for Middle School) program at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.  I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, a small island in the Caribbean, and I enjoy visiting my family whenever time (and money) permits!  Most of my family lives there, about a 5 minute drive from the beach.  I love the beach and learned to bodyboard surf a few years back.  I still try to catch a wave or two when I visit.  I am blessed to be a part of the Belize research team this summer, lead by our cool professor Mark McGinley, and engage in real environmental research along with my Tech friends!  I hope to bring my experiences to class, adding relevance to instruction and allowing students to feel they are part of it.  I wish to bring the scientific method to life through our efforts and through the Malaysian bat research also sponsored by TTU.  Finally, in my friend George's words, I would like to "raise awareness of conservation" in my students."

The Crew: Catherine Wright

I am originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, and I graduated from the University of
Southwestern Louisiana. I am currently working on a Master’s of Science degree
from Texas Tech University. I teach 6th grade math at Webb Middle School in
Garland, TX. I am looking forward to exploring and researching the marine life in
Belize to share with my students in the future.

The Crew: Ryan Timmons

I am a 7th grade math teacher and high school swimming coach for Prosper ISD.  I have three children (two boys and one little girl ages 4, 2 and 2 months).  This opportunity is the realization of a lifelong dream.  As a student in my younger days I studied aquatics and marine life at the various pet stores and aquariums in Texas and Indiana.  I had previously maintained over 200 gallons of fish tanks in my classroom but had to part with most of them due to district policy change.  I am so very excited to experience this much larger fish tank.  I am an avid swimmer and swam in high school as well as college at Indiana University.  I know I’m going to be the first one in the water and they will probably going to have to drag me out at the end of the day.  Look out fishies here I come. 

The Crew: George Rodriguez

My name is George Rodriguez.  I teach 8th grade Pre AP science and science at Eisenhower Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, where I currently reside as the science department chair.  I'm originally from El Paso, Texas, where I graduated from Socorro High School.  After graduation, I moved to Austin where I attended the University of Texas at Austin.  I received my bachelors from UT in Biology. I’m currently seeking my Masters of Science at Texas Tech University. In my spare time, I like to read and doing anything outdoors.  I’m excited to travel to Ambergris Caye with Dr. Mark McGinley for this research project, so I can use this experience as a teaching tool to bring about awareness for conservation.  

The Crew: Keely Tippett

I am a 6-8 Science teacher at Childress Jr High.  I have taught science for 6 years and love middle school kids.  I am currently working on my masters at Texas Tech University and excited to conduct research. Living in a small town many  of my students have never see the ocean, this opportunity allows me chance to bring the ocean back to my students.

The Crew: Joshua Nielsen

I am a biology teacher at Rider H.S. in Wichita Falls ISD. I previously taught 7^th grade science/robotics/chaos theory for 11 years at Kirby World Academy, WFISD. I received a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Midwestern State University and currently working on my Masters of Science in Middle School Math and Science. We referred to it as (MS) ^2. I am a techie (computer nerd, amateur roboticist) but also enjoy the outdoors and LEGOs. I am excited about traveling to Belize with Dr. McGinley and my friends to do research. I look forward to incorporating the research into my curriculum.

The Crew: Trina Hardin

I teach seventh grade math at Childress Junior High. I am a wife, a mother, and
a grandmother. My husband teaches sixth grade social studies so it is my intention to
use this trip to enhance not only my classroom but also his. I have never had a passport
before this so I am very excited to travel out of the country. My husband and I both
coach Junior High girls so there is not much time for hobbies, but I do enjoy spending as
much time as possible with my family.

The Crew: Amy Hansen

I am Amy Hansen and I teach 8^th grade Algebra in Rockwall ISD.  I have taught for 13 years and I am currently working on a Master’s of Science from Texas Tech University.  Most of my summers in the past have been spent traveling around the world with students. However, this summer I am spending my time with adults, well at least people who are over the age of 21.  I am excited that is summer I have the opportunity to do research with Dr. McGiney.  I recently became scuba certified so hopefully I can plan on doing a couple of dives while in Belize.     

The Crew: Lynn Seman

Education has been my lifelong career – teaching as well as learning new concepts.  Having taught 27 years in math and/or science, I am currently teaching 7^th grade science at Kirby World Academy in Wichita Falls, TX.  In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, bicycling, studying nature, and volunteering as a Texas Master Naturalist with the Rolling Plains Chapter.  I am excited to be a part of this research project and plan to use this experience to continue to educate others about this diverse and exceptional planet in which we live – Earth. 

The Crew: Cari Quillen

I am a 7-12th grade science teacher at Harrold ISD in Harrold, TX.  I am also a graduate student in the MS2 program at Texas Tech University.  I am earning a masters of science in multidisciplinary science.  I enjoy spending much of my time outdoors fishing, hunting, and enjoying nature.  I am excited to be going to Belize and researching the effects of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on the reef fish communities.

The Crew: Katie Duncan

Hi, I’m Katie Duncan.  I currently teach 7^th grade science in Amarillo, Texas at Sam Houston Middle School.  This will be my 9^th year of teaching, anything from science, math, special education, middle school and high school.  I am currently working on my Master’s of Science degree from Texas Tech University.  Go Red Raiders!!  I am so excited that getting my Masters has allowed me the opportunity for this research trip to Belize.  I am a military brat, so I got to see tons of places growing up, but my students who live in the panhandle of West Texas have never seen the ocean, and some never will, most will never leave the neighborhood they are growing up in, so to be able to bring back a Marine environment to them, pictures, experiences, research data, is going to be amazing.  My kids are wonderful and to be able to expand their world and knowledge even a little my taking this trip is so worth it.  I am looking forward to having my kids work with the fish identification and some of the data that I bring back to the classroom.  This trip is about what I will be able to bring back for them!