Campus Naturalists
Campus Naturalists act as a liason to the campus community and particularly University Colloquium students. Most importantly, naturalists act as peer interpreters, helping students connect to the campus ecosystem and the wild side of Florida - including campus trails, native and exotic wildlife, wetland and upland ecosystems, natural and cultural resources and conservation areas.
Campus Naturalists primarily assist professors leading classes at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Lovers Key State Park, Downtown Fort Myers, and on the Campus Trails. Naturalists may occasionally assist with other Colloquium field trips, campus trail clean-ups and other service learning events sponsored by University Colloquium. Naturalists help their peers understand the natural environment they are visiting.
Interested in becoming a naturalist? Please send your resume, letter of interest and a letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member to Rachel Sheffey, Coordinator for Academic Programs, at rsheffey@fgcu.edu.
Allison Goodwin — Senior Naturalist
Hi! My name is Allison Goodwin, and I'm a sophomore pursuing a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, with a concentration in Ecology and Environmental Assessment. Currently, I'm working on my research project using acoustic monitoring systems to measure bat populations on campus. In my free time, I enjoy spending time at the beach or the waterfront, shopping at flea markets and thrift stores, and exploring downtown Ft Myers, but the outdoors is my favorite place to be! My short-term goal is to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting, ideally through an internship or job in inspiring locations, such as Costa Rica or Australia. My long-term goal is to work in wildlife rehabilitation and ecosystem restoration, helping to protect and recover vulnerable species and habitats.
Amanda DeLisle
Howdy! My name is Amanda DeLisle, I was born and raised in Immokalee, Florida to a large Hispanic family. I am a first-generation college student majoring in Anthropology, as you might have guessed that makes me a little bit of an archaeological nerd. I enjoy hobbies of drawing, playing video games, and occasionally playing guitar. I also love nerdy discussions on Marvel and Star Wars (Anakin was right)! Fun fact: I have a pet tortoise and absolutely love reptiles! I am also the Vice President of a little club on campus called MASA, the Mexican American Student Alliance, come hang out with us! After I graduate, I would love to work in a state park teaching others about the native fauna and past historical societies of Florida through conservation work.
Ani Harutyunyan
Hello! My name is Ani, and I'm a second-year Marine Science major. I was born in Armenia, but I've grown up in Florida for most of my life and am fascinated by the wildlife. I hope to one day become an aquatic veterinarian or work in behavioral research and conservation. I love reading, traveling, beach days with friends, and spending time with my dog! I love nature and I hope I can share some love and knowledge with everybody.
Sebastian Aspron
Hey! My names Sebastian and I’m an Environmental Studies Major. I’m from Asturias, Spain where I’d spend my time exploring the Cantabrian Mountains and keeping an eye out for wildlife ranging from mountain goats to the odd wolf sighting. Here in the States, I’m a volunteer disaster responder and Sawyer with team Rubicon, a FEMA-partnered disaster response non-profit. I’m a member of the first FGCU Gulf Scholars cohort and I’m looking forward to being a part in the ongoing effort to preserve the Gulf region and teach others about its importance. My long-term career interests are in disaster and emergency management and how response and prevention efforts to natural disasters interconnect with environmental protection and conservation practices. In my free-time I love playing ultimate frisbee, film photography, mountain biking and going down rabbit holes about random historical events. I’m very excited about being a campus naturalist and having the opportunity of showing others the beauty and uniqueness of the natural environment that surrounds us here in Southwest Florida!
Vania Azevedo
Hi! My name is Vania Azevedo, and I am an Interdisciplinary Studies major. My passion for sustainability and the environment all began with a service-learning event at the FGCU Food Forest. I love learning about the environment and things I can do to be more sustainable. Aside from school, I love spending time at the beach, kayaking, cooking, gardening, spending time with my dog, etc. I have many plans for the future, but I hope that I can always incorporate my passion for sustainability and the environment in all my future endeavors. As a naturalist, I hope I can also spark a passion for the environment and sustainability in our Colloquium field trips.
This could be you!
