MEET THE RESEARCHERS

Meet the Researchers

Dr. Jerry Johnston is the leader of the Santa Fe River Turtle Project and Professor of Biology at Santa Fe College. He received a B.S. from Villanova University and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami. In 2011, he was named Florida Professor of the Year by the Association of Florida Colleges.

Dr. Jennifer Adler earned a B.S. in Marine Biology from Brown University and moved to Florida in 2011 to work at USGS where she mainly worked with Gulf sturgeon in the Suwannee River. In 2018, she received a Ph.D. from the University of Florida studying grazers and dissolved oxygen in Florida's springs. She is a conservation photographer and National Geographic Explorer who tells visual stories that communicate science and conservation. She has worked on the Santa Fe River Turtle Project since 2013

Maggie Anderson earned a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. In her spare time she volunteers at a local wildlife rehabilitation center and rescues injured wildlife. She has been a part of the team since 2017.

Megan De Angelis is a student at the University of North Florida working toward a BS in Wildlife Ecology. She works at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm educating youngsters who participate in the Zoo Camp program. She has been part of the project since 2017.

Trish Eaton is currently pursuing a BA in Organizational Management at Santa Fe College. She has a degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Airforce and earned an AA degree in Zoology From Santa Fe College. Trish is the Admiral of he turtle project fleet.

Jeremy Geiger is a student at the University of Florida majoring in natural resource conservation and has been part of the team since 2016. He currently works under Dr. Travis Thomas at the Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key, FL where he assists with projects including a long-term study of Alligator Snapping Turtles in the Suwannee River.

Corey Johnson is a student at Santa Fe College majoring in Plant Sciences. She plans to enter the field of agricultural plant pathology. She volunteers at the USGS lab with Matt Denton, using stable isotopes analysis to infer alligator and turtle diets.

Dr. Joseph C. Mitchell was a self-employed herpetologist/ecologist. He obtained a B.S. in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1974, a M.S. in Zoology from Arizona State University in 1976, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Tennessee in 1982. He authored or co-authored 5 books and over 450 popular articles and scientific papers. He worked on the Santa Fe River Turtle Project from 2008 until his death in 2019. Joe was a beloved friend and mentor to all.

Georgia Shemitz and Pete Butt are owners of Karst Environmental Services, Inc. a company that provides specialized water resource services and scientific diving services. They assist with field activities and provide water craft and other equipment support. Their Santa Fe River residence is used by the team as a field station. Georgia takes photographs and is the webmaster for this website.

Stacie Snipes earned a BS in psychology from University of Central Florida. She volunteers at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa doing animal husbandry. She has raised turtles and tortoises since she was big enough to walk currently and works part-time at Wayne Hill’s Turtle Farm.

Dr. Travis Thomas earned an A.A. from Santa Fe College, a B.S.in Natural Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. Travis’ research focuses mainly on the ecology and management of the Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle and Diamondback Terrapin. He currently works at the Nature Coast Biological Station. Travis began field research with Dr. Johnston in 2004 and was the first student to work on the Santa Fe River Turtle Project.