Faculty & Staff
Meet the expert faculty and staff behind UF’s Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation program, including leaders in wildlife biology, forensics, law, and conservation.
Susan Underkoffler, MFS, Program Director, Senior Lecturer, and Forensic InvestigatorSusan Underkoffler, MFS, holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Conservation Biology and Scientific Illustration from Arcadia University and a Master of Forensic Science degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. She developed an animal forensic science track for Drexel University College of Medicine’s graduate forensics program. Courses: |
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Bridget Baker, MS, DVM, Program DirectorDr. Baker is a Research Assistant Professor in the IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida (UF). After earning a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW), Dr. Baker worked as a wildlife biologist with various federal, state, academic, and non-profit groups. She then returned to UW to earn her DVM with an emphasis in wildlife, exotic, and zoo animal medicine, as well as a Master of Science in Comparative Biomedical Science and a Special Species veterinary internship. Her veterinary externship and postdoctoral fellowship at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center focused on wildlife pathology and related research, which have remained a large focus in her career, both previously as a veterinarian at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and currently as co-PI and veterinarian for UF Marine Animal Rescue. Her areas of expertise include conservation medicine, aquatic animal health and welfare, environmental toxicology, wildlife diseases, and One Health. |
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Joseph Rivera, JDJoseph Rivera served as an officer in the U.S. Army for about 14 years, and is a graduate of Marion Military Institute where he earned an Associates in military science, Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oregon State University, Master of Science in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in criminal behavior from Tiffin University, a juris doctorate and a concentration in business law from University of Mississippi School of Law, and a certificate in financial crime investigations from Utica College. Courses: |
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Ngaio Richards, Ph.D.Ngaio Richards is a wildlife biologist and detection dog handler whose work involves bridging the gap between those who specialize either in the repercussions of pesticides, or of veterinary agents, on wildlife as well as those who work in field and analytical settings. She is also the Forensics & Field Specialist for Working Dogs for Conservation, a nonprofit in Montana. Courses: |
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Hayley Adams, DVM, Ph.D.Hayley Adams has over 20 years of experience in wildlife veterinary medicine, conservation, and issues related to One Health in Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology/Anthropology, and went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. She completed a clinical internship in small animal and emergency medicine, and worked briefly in small animal private practice before returning to her alma mater to work on her PhD in the veterinary sciences. In 2007 she received her PhD from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s Comparative Medicine Program, with a concentration in epidemiology and virology. Her PhD research focused on the molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of lentiviruses of free-ranging lions in southern Africa. She is a board-certified Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (specialties include environmental health, infectious & parasitic diseases, food safety, epidemiology & biostatistics, & public health administration & education) and the American College of Veterinary Microbiology (specialties include virology, bacteriology/mycology, & immunology). Courses: |
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Lee BurtonLee Burton is the owner of Naturalist Ventures and an accomplished outdoorsman and naturalist, providing instruction for a variety of field skills topics including wildlife tracking and avian communications (bird language). He teaches undergraduate and graduate students internationally, both online and in person. Courses |
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Nicole ChinniciNicole Chinnici is the laboratory director of the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory, home of the PA Tick Research Lab. Nicole is a certified wildlife forensic scientist with six years of research experience overseeing and conducting tick testing and analyses. She also handles various types of wildlife forensic casework, creates and monitors wildlife forensic databases and develops and optimizes PCR and multiplex PCR protocols for species identification and genotyping. |
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Jeff Rodzen, Ph.D.Jeff Rodzen is originally from New England and earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in marine ecology at the University of Maine. He then continued on to the University of California, Davis where he earned a doctorate in Genetics while studying the genetics of the octoploid white sturgeon, focusing on the management of both wild and farm-raised sturgeon. He then worked for the California Department of Fish and Game’s Wildlife Forensics Laboratory for about 12 years where he performed wildlife forensic casework while advancing the use of DNA in wildlife forensic science. Courses: |
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Nicole Lewis, DVMNicole Lewis is a wildlife veterinarian and owner of WildSide Vet LLC, providing contract wildlife veterinary services to local, state, and federal government, nonprofits, zoos, aquariums, colleges and more. She has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Health, Master of Science in veterinary epidemiology and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2013 at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Prior to moving to Seattle, she was the state wildlife veterinarian for New Jersey and has a passion for wildlife conservation. Courses: |
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Megan Stolen, MSMegan Stolen has worked as a marine mammal stranding investigator for over 30 years and is one of five NOAA-approved large whale necropsy team leaders for the Atlantic coast of the U.S. She is a senior scientist at Blue World Research Institute. Megan earned her BSc. and MSc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s degree in Wildlife Forensic Science and Conservation from the University of Florida. Her current research focuses on taphonomy, human-wildlife conflict and trauma in Florida wildlife and marine mammals. Courses: |
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Teomie Rivera-Miranda, Ph.D.Dr. Teomie Rivera-Miranda is originally from Puerto Rico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in general biology and a master’s degree in biology from the University of Puerto Rico. She obtained her Ph.D. in Entomology from Purdue University. Her research at Purdue aimed at studying the effects of commonly used insecticides on blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) development and oviposition, as well as their impact on carcass decomposition. The findings from her research have significant implications for forensic investigations, particularly in cases where the presence of insecticides (accidental or intentional) is suspected. Dr. Rivera-Miranda is a certified forensic entomology technician by the American Board of Forensic Entomology (ABFE).
Throughout her academic career, she has been dedicated to promoting scientific communication both within and outside the scientific community through her participation in numerous outreach events and scientific conferences. She is passionate about mentoring and teaching students at all levels and has taught undergraduate laboratory courses in Forensic Investigation and Forensic Analysis, as well as a Forensic Science Summer Residential program for 5th and 6th graders.
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Annant Whalen, Assistant Director for Operations and Academic Support, Maples Center for Forensic MedicineShe handles graduate admissions, retention and academic advising for the Wildlife Forensics Sciences and Conservation and Forensic Medicine programs. She has worked at UF since 2005 with a few years at universities overseas in between where she worked as a university registrar, academic advisor and testing officer. At UF she served in the Office of Admissions from 2016-2021 where she handled freshman and transfer admissions as well as transfer evaluation and undergraduate readmission. She has in-depth knowledge of UF’s Enrollment Management systems. Annant’s academic background is in Geography. She has lived and worked in seven countries and considers herself to be a global citizen. She loves to travel, walk, cook and paint. |
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Roshni Flood, Academic Program Specialist, Maples Center for Forensic MedicineRoshni graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2017 and earned her master's degree in 2023. She has worked at the University of Florida since 2019, gaining experience with student support at the Registrar’s Office and the main Admissions Office. She currently serves as an Academic Program Specialist at the Maples Center for Forensic Medicine, where she provides academic advising and assists with admissions processes. Having attended the University of Florida and understanding what it is like from a student’s perspective, she is passionate about helping students and creating a positive experience for them throughout their graduate school journey. |
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John E. Cooper and Margaret Cooper, ConsultantsDr. John Cooper, DTVM, FRCPath, FRSB, originally trained as a British veterinary surgeon (veterinarian). He graduated in veterinary science and earned his Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons at the University of Bristol in 1966. Margaret E. Cooper, LLB, FLS, is a lawyer who trained originally as a British solicitor and has made the study of animal and conservation law her special interest. |
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