Wildlife Ecology and Conservation department

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Staff

Barnash, Tom IT Specialist II 305 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0560 barnasht@ufl.edu System Administrator Tom has been with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation since 2006. In his role as the department’s IT support, he is responsible for all technology related support needs, including hardware, software, websites, video conferencing and telephones. He is also responsible for all technology related purchases for the department as well as the management of IT related attractive asset inventory.
Carter, Cameron Operations Manager B-3A Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0631 ccriderr@ufl.edu
Cox, Maureen Academic Advisor III Academic Support Services 102 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0554 mjcox@ufl.edu Academic Support Services Maureen has been with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation since 2024. She is responsible for WEC undergraduate recruitment, transfer admissions, undergraduate advising and related student services, course scheduling, course/instructor evaluations, and final grade collection.
Dial, Michael Administrative Specialist I 115 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0552 michael.dial@ufl.edu Administrative Specialist Michael has been with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation since 2023. This position holds a multi-faceted role designed to complement the overall management of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Primary responsibility is administrative support to the office of the Chair. This position often serves as first point of contact for the Chair’s office and interfaces with WEC faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Additionally, includes serving as primary event coordinator and general office oversight for supply orders, equipment reservations and service calls, as well as coordinating joint room reservations with staff from the School of Forest Fisheries and Geomatics (FFGS). A second area of responsibility includes serving a financial support role, as the primary approver of P-cards and travel transactions. Michael is also the point of contact for graduate student issues related to admissions, registration, final semester/graduation, and any submission of data related to the graduate degree program or milestones.
Dyer, Donna Administrative Specialist III 113 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0577 dkb@ufl.edu Manager, Administrative Services with concentration of service to Human Resources Donna has been with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation since 2018. With more than 30 years of UF/IFAS experience, Donna is tasked with coordinating daily operations of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Donna oversees all fiscal, grants, and human resources activities; particular focus is on day-to-day HR transactional processing, which may include hire transactions for faculty, staff, and students; benefits inquiries, letters of appointment; tuition waivers; payroll distributions; effort reporting; employee relations, payroll processing and reconciliation, and workers compensation.
Farley, Frank Administrative Services Program Assistant 103 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0633 f.farley@ufl.edu
Kahler, Ben Administrative Specialist II Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Building 106 352-846-0534 bkahler@ufl.edu Research Administrator Ben is a Certified Research Administrator assigned to the Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (Co-Op Unit). Ben assists the Unit Leader, Assistant Unit Leaders, cooperating faculty, and students in completing and maintaining administrative processes, compliance activities, reporting, and records for all research activities under the Co-Op Unit. Ben is also responsible for all pre-award and post-award support for all Co-Op Unit projects (USGS Research Work Orders, RWOs; reimbursable agreements; and related awards) at WEC, and acts as a liaison with IFAS Research Dean and Division of Sponsored Research offices for these research opportunities. Ben coordinates with staff from other UF departments for Co-Op Unit projects outside of WEC.
Lahiri, Annesha Communications Program Assistant a.lahiri@ufl.edu Communications Program Assistant and Social Media Her responsibilities with WEC include content creation and management of social media channels, creating the "WEC Spotlight" four times per year, and covering departmental news, student/faculty research, milestones and field experience on the departmental blog. She also works alongside IFAS/UF Communications to create marketing materials for recruitment, promote events and share WEC news.
Robison, Caitlin FMNP Program Coordinator, Administrative Specialist/HR Liaison 103 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-294-0497 crobison@ufl.edu Caitlin has worked with the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) since Fall 2020 and began as an Administrative Specialist/HR Liaison with WEC in April 2024. Caitlin holds a B.A. in both Philosophy and Anthropology from Rollins College, and a M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Florida. As the FMNP Program Coordinator, Caitlin executes all program logistics for the state-wide program network. Her regular tasks include general operations, supporting instructors and graduates, managing communications and program data, and community outreach in collaboration with the Program Leader. As an Admin. Specialist in WEC, Caitlin handles the hiring process for all student assistants and OPS positions, from pre-screening to payroll. She is also tasked with running departmental payroll, leave reconciliation, and other projects in collaboration with the Administrative Services Manager.
Seay, Brandie Research Administrator I 111 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0635 brandieseay@ufl.edu Accounting Specialist and Research Administrator Brandie has been with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation since 2017. In her role as Accounting Specialist, Brandie assists the Manager, Administrative Services with day-to-day oversight of fiscal and grants transactions. Fiscal responsibilities include direct oversight of three fiscal processors and the daily processing of non-payroll transactions. Brandie also serves as the primary approver role for purchase orders, and holds a leadership role to ensure timely PCard, invoice, and travel processing. Fiscal oversight also includes reconciliation of non-salary, non-payroll activities. A secondary aspect of the Accounting Specialist includes management of a moderate to large sponsored project portfolio, to include pre- and post-award management. Sponsored projects for Wildlife Ecology and Conservation are collaboratively-managed with the Research Administrator I position housed in the Florida Fish and Wildlife (Co-Op Unit).
Summerlin, Cassidy "Cassy" Administrative Specialist II 109 Newins-Ziegler Hall 352-846-0644 csummerlin@ufl.edu Administrative Specialist Cassy has been with Wildlife Ecology and Conservation since 2019. Responsible for administrative details of $8.44M annual research program as well as supervision of staff; student activities, personnel, budgets, research work orders, contracts and grants management, fiscal reports and reconciliation, the annual report, website, coordination of meetings and other related functions. Oversees the operations of the CO-OP unit including federal inventory, building maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and day to day operations of the unit.