Harris Nature Center Foundation
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DIRECTORS

The Harris Nature Center Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, composed of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Directors-at-large. Up to 15 Directors serve renewable 3-year terms, guiding and promoting the Foundation. Directors are members of the community who are interested in supporting the Harris Nature Center and have interests, skills, or knowledge that help fulfill the Board's mission.
All Directors serve as volunteers, so all donations to the Foundation go directly to projects.


If you are interested in serving on the HNCF Board, please download and fill the application form:

                                               Director Application Form (PDF)

Please email the application form to: directorpresident@hncfoundation.org
Alternatively, a printed form can be filled and mailed to the Nature Center Building.
All applicants are reviewed and elected upon voting by the current Board of Directors.
 

Current Board of Directors

Jim Buscetta, HNCF President

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Mr. Buscetta is the retired Manager of Client Services for the Michigan Commission for the Blind. He has been a volunteer at the Harris Nature Center for over 10 years.  He also is an active member of several conservation organizations including Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the Red Cedar Fly Fishers, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Ruffed Grouse Society, and Pheasants Forever.
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Director since 2010.

Melissa Benbow

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​Melissa Benbow, MD has lived in Okemos since 2014 and is a neighbor to the Harris Nature Center. Her children have participated in programs such as Chipmunk Story Time, and her entire family enjoys hiking, playing at the Nature Exploration Area, and exploring the native animals and plants at the Center. Melissa is a pediatrician at MSU and enjoys sharing her love of nature and encouraging families to get outdoors.
Director since 2020.

Evelyne Cudel​

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​Evelyne Cudel is an anthropologist and STEM consultant. She earned her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of California Riverside in 1994. She has published a number of papers, reports and documents and has worked on a variety of different kinds of projects in the U.S. and France. She is engaged in research and development of projects, bringing science to the public, concerning environmental issues, ethnobiology, ethnomusicology, philosophy of education. Other philosophy engagements are environmental and medical ethics as well as indigenous peoples' rights. She is a multimedia artist, photographer, and musician. Her philosophy of education is: “Learning by doing, doing by contributing educational projects to the community”. In terms of teaching she has principally taught cultural anthropology, human geography, philosophy of nature and French. 
Director since 2019.

David Detrisac, HNCF Treasurer

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​David Detrisac, MD is a retired orthopedic surgeon.  He served on state and national societies. He enjoys nature and was an Eagle Boy Scout. Since retiring, he has been active in his church, volunteered as an AARP Tax-Aide, and has done contact tracing during the pandemic. He hopes to enable more people to enjoy the Harris Nature center, a gem in Meridian Township. 
​Director since 2020.

​Brian Gillespie

​Director since 2021.

Bartolomeo Gorgoglione

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Dr. Gorgoglione is a scientist dedicated to fish diseases and immunology. After achieving the DVM in Bari, Italy he specialized on fish with a Master in Stirling, Scotland, followed by a Ph.D. in Fish Immunology in Aberdeen, Scotland. Thereafter he worked at VetMedUni in Vienna, Austria. Moving to Ann Arbor, MI in 2016 with his wife Cristina (a neuroendocrinology researcher at University of Michigan), he worked in Toledo, OH and at Wright State University in Dayton, OH. Bart joined Michigan State University in March 2019, as an Assistant Professor (tenure track) at the Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory. A former boy scout and lover of nature, photography and traveling, Bart also covers volunteer duties for the European Association of Fish Pathologists and World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association. Director since 2019.

​Alexa Warwick, HNCF Secretary

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Dr. Warwick is a wildlife biologist and outreach/engagement specialist at Michigan State University. She works jointly with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MSU Extension, and the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. She is passionate about youth and adults being more active in the outdoors and more interested in wildlife and conservation. An Iowa native, she moved to Michigan in 2016 after receiving her Ph.D. from Florida State University. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and taking her family to visit the many beautiful parks and natural areas in Michigan, like the Harris Nature Center.
​Director since 2019.


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Honorary Directors

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Howard & Helen Tanner, 2010-present
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Rick Preuss, 2013-present

Former Directors

Ron Bacon, 2006-2009
Tony Bauer, 2013-2015
Christen Chapelle, 2019-2021
Mike Eberlein, 2008-2012
Doug Eschtruth, 2006-2009
Norman Grannemann, 2008-2014
Steve Gruber, 2012-2013
Jeff Hicks, 2008-2011

June Hicks, 2015-2020
Barb Kissling, 2006-2021
Jessica Kovan, 2006-2008
Mike Lenkowski, 2011-2015
Marilyn Lieber, 2006-2009
Rachel McDaniel, 2017-2020

Mike McDonald, 2008-2014
Julie Moore, 2011-2019
Nancy Parmenter, 2017-2018
Rick Preuss, 2006-2012

Patty Robbins​, 2009-2021
Robert Rusch, 2011-2014
Andy Such, 2009-2011
Helen Tanner, 2006-2009
Nora Thompson, 2016-2017

Roxanne Truhn, 2014-2021
Gene Wasserman, 2006-2009
Jim Wood, 2010-2011
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