Experts featured in “Wetlands: Seasons of Change”
Dr. Allison Rober
Dr. Allison Rober is an associate professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources and assistant director of academic programming at Stone Lab at Ohio State University. Rober earned her doctorate from Michigan State University in integrative biology and the Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program with a specialization in environmental science and policy. Rober is an aquatic microbial ecologist whose research is conducted primarily in wetlands and has taught a wide range of courses that span from microbiology to community ecology. Rober’s lab examines how environmental conditions in freshwater ecosystems regulate microbial community structure and function, with a particular emphasis on algal communities. The research of Rober’s lab has contributed to an understanding of how environmental change influences ecosystem processes such as food web dynamics.
Dr. Kevin Wyatt
Dr. Kevin Wyatt is a professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University. Wyatt received his doctorate from Michigan State University in integrative biology and the Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Program. He teaches courses focused on wetland ecology and restoration, aquatic microbiology, and water quality management. He conducts basic and applied research on microbial ecology. His research focuses on interactions between primary producers and decomposers that have consequences for biogeochemical cycling in streams, lakes and wetlands.
Alex Czayka
Alex Czayka is the chief conservation officer of Western Reserve Land Conservancy, where he oversees conservation work throughout the organization’s 29-county service area. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kent State University and earned a master’s in wetland ecology from SUNY Brockport. Alex’s prior experience includes working for the U.S. Geological Survey and The Nature Conservancy. Alex started his tenure with the Land Conservancy in 2013 as an associate eastern field director, where he worked primarily on conservation easements in a select geography of Northeast Ohio.
Alex grew up in Ashtabula County and enjoys everything outdoors, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, land management, gardening and visiting new wild places. Alex resides in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, with his wife, son, two dogs and their flock of chickens.
Dr. David Kriska
Dr. David Kriska is a biologist with expertise in the identification, protection, and stewardship of natural habitats in the Lake Erie ecoregion. He has spearheaded projects aimed at restoring rare habitats.
Michael Marefka
Michael Marefka has been a valued member of the EnviroScience family since 2022 and currently serves as Vegetation Services Manager. Michael provides project management and technical expertise for the vegetation components of environmental restoration projects, including the surveying and control of invasive species, the identification of Ohio Department of Natural Resources state-listed plant species, and the installation and oversight of native vegetation on major stream and wetland restoration projects. The diverse nature of his work demands proficiency with issues related to sensitive ecosystem dynamics, herbicide application, spatial analysis, and data management.
Experts featured in “Native & Invasive Species of the Wetlands”
Zurijanne Carter
Zurijanne Carter is the chief natural resources officer for Metroparks Toledo, where she leads the natural resources division in guiding strategic planning, conservation initiatives and land acquisition efforts across Lucas County. With a strong focus on ecological restoration and sustainability, Zuri pursues grant opportunities to support large-scale habitat management and restoration projects, ensuring the protection and enhancement of vital natural areas.
Zuri holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University, where she focused on the human dimensions of wildlife management. Her career has been dedicated to the stewardship of natural resources, balancing conservation with community engagement and sustainable land management practices.
Zack Felger
Zack Felger is the outreach and education specialist for the Mahoning County Soil and Water Conservation District. In this role, he develops and leads environmental education programs for schools, community groups and the public. His outreach efforts focus on raising awareness of local natural resources and fostering stewardship through hands-on, engaging learning experiences. Zack holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Youngstown State University. Outside of his professional work, he serves on the board of Friends of the Mahoning River, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the health and quality of the Mahoning River watershed.
Dr. Robert Hamilton IV
Dr. Robert Hamilton IV is an associate professor of biological sciences at Kent State University at Stark. He has worked at Kent State for 19 years. Hamilton earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bowling Green State University, Master of Science in Biology from Howard University, and doctorate in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University. He currently teaches a variety of courses for Biology majors and non-majors. His research interests focus on freshwater ecology within wetlands and streams. Hamilton studies invertebrate communities, water chemistry, and species interactions within these systems.
Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello
Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello is an associate professor in the biological sciences department at Kent State University who also co-directs Kent State’s Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability. She also leads the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program. Kinsman-Costello studies nutrient cycling in hydrologically variable aquatic ecosystems — including urban wetlands, restored agricultural wetlands, Great Lakes coastal wetlands and arctic peatlands.
Kinsman-Costello received her doctorate from Michigan State University, where she studied wetland nutrient cycling in southeast Michigan at the Kellogg Biological Station. She completed postdoctoral research in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Michigan, studying underwater groundwater seeps in Lake Huron. Her work has been funded by a broad range of local, regional and federal funding sources including the Cleveland Metroparks, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. Her work is published in journals including Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Biogeochemistry, and Geobiology.
Experts featured in “Welcome to the Wetlands”
Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello
Dr. Lauren Kinsman-Costello is an associate professor in the biological sciences department at Kent State University who also co-directs Kent State’s Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability. She also leads the H2Ohio Wetland Monitoring Program. Kinsman-Costello studies nutrient cycling in hydrologically variable aquatic ecosystems — including urban wetlands, restored agricultural wetlands, Great Lakes coastal wetlands and arctic peatlands.
Kinsman-Costello received her doctorate from Michigan State University, where she studied wetland nutrient cycling in southeast Michigan at the Kellogg Biological Station. She completed postdoctoral research in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Michigan, studying underwater groundwater seeps in Lake Huron. Her work has been funded by a broad range of local, regional and federal funding sources including the Cleveland Metroparks, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. Her work is published in journals including Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, Biogeochemistry, and Geobiology.
Dr. Robert Hamilton IV
Dr. Robert Hamilton IV is an associate professor of biological sciences at Kent State University at Stark. He has worked at Kent State for 19 years. Hamilton earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bowling Green State University, Master of Science in Biology from Howard University, and doctorate in Ecology and Evolution from Rutgers University. He currently teaches a variety of courses for Biology majors and non-majors. His research interests focus on freshwater ecology within wetlands and streams. Hamilton studies invertebrate communities, water chemistry, and species interactions within these systems.
Eric Saas
Eric Saas leads the H2Ohio Wetlands Program for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Eric has been with ODNR since December of 2019. Prior to that, he monitored water quality in Ohio’s rivers and lakes at the Ohio EPA for over a decade. Eric has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Muskingum University and a Master of Science in Natural Resources from the University of New Hampshire.
H2Ohio
H2Ohio is Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative designed to address complex issues impacting Ohio’s waters. H2Ohio uses a comprehensive and collaborative approach guided by science and data to improve the quality of Ohio’s waterways. The role of the Ohio Department of Natural Resource (ODNR) within H2Ohio is to restore wetland ecosystems, expanding their natural capacity to reduce water pollution. Since the H2Ohio Initiative was launched in 2019, ODNR has funded over 200 wetland restorations across Ohio totaling over 18,000 acres of restored wetlands and associated habitat.