Hello! I'm Tessie Sacchetti, a Senior Marine Biology major at Eckerd. I have experience in herptile, mammal, and avian animal care from working in an exotic species rehoming centre. I'm excited to collaborate with the lab team to plan and execute research and care for newly discovered species. My future goal is to work in animal care and rehabilitation and publish my work.

I am part of the Research department. I direct research projects from conception to execution. My responsibilities include designing experiments, mentoring assistant researchers, and ensuring compliance with ethical standards in research methodologies. I also provide the lab with the ability to implement and create study protocols and equipment. I also oversee the writing and publication of research papers

Hello, I'm Claire! I am a senior at Eckerd College, majoring in Animal Studies, I have a passion in being the middle person in translating scientific research for the general public. I hope to bridge gaps in information to ensure humans are more informed and animals can live better lives. I am excited to be part of this lab because it provides the perfect opportunity to combine my passions for content creation, project management, and animal education. I look forward to supporting the lab’s mission and helping share its research with new audiences.

I support the running of the Media and Relations department. My key role is to develop and implement media strategies to promote the lab’s research and outreach activities. My duties include managing public relations, organizing community outreach programs, and overseeing educational content to share ours and others research.

Hello, I'm Grace. I had the opportunity previously to design and study the Brown Pelican at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium about their habitat usage and social interactions with new pelicans in their flock. I then worked under multiple zoo keeper at the Animal Encounters Village, working with hundreds of different animals from capybaras all the way to Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. I am planning to double major in Animal Studies and Psychology to focus on animal cognition and their relation to humans, as well as minoring in Public Health. I am incredibly excited to work for this lab because I love being around such different people and working in such a great community to learn about how we can help and research such interesting reptiles.  

Hey, I'm Will! I am excited to be a part of this lab because of all the information we can contribute to a part of the reptile-keeping field that is currently lacking. This research has incredible implications in a variety of spaces. I have previously worked with multiple AZA-accredited institutions and have had the opportunity to be a part of animal care teams responsible for marine mammals, reptiles, big cats, birds of prey, and other animals. In the future, I would love to get involved in species reintroduction programs. Still, in the shorter term, my goals are primarily to get into grad school, possibly for conservation ecology.

I support the running of the Animal Care department by overseeing the daily care and management of our lab animals. My responsibilities include monitoring animal health, ensuring proper nutrition, scheduling and conducting animal daily routines, and coordinating with researchers to facilitate research protocols.

Hello, I am a Marine Science and Animal Studies student at Eckerd College with a strong focus on applied ecology, wildlife monitoring, and animal care across terrestrial and aquatic systems. My experience includes coral reef restoration, scientific diving, forestry management, wildlife observation, coral husbandry, and amphibian research. I also work in environmental education and conservation communication, using photography and outreach to translate science for public audiences. I serve on Eckerd’s Search and Rescue team as a First Mate, Radio Operator, and Coxswain trainee. My background in controlled-environment care and research documentation supports my work in maintaining high standards of herpetological husbandry and contributing to the HERP Lab’s educational and research mission.

My name is David Noland, and I am a freshman at Eckerd College studying Animal Studies. I have been passionate about reptiles and amphibians for as long as I can remember, and I have spent over 14 years keeping and learning about different species. This experience has helped me develop a strong interest in herpetology, conservation, and wildlife education.

Before coming to Eckerd, I gained experience working with animals and educating the public about herps through my own reptile business and an internship at the Santa Barbara Zoo, where I helped with animal encounters and educational programs. I have also used my experience keeping reptiles to teach others about these animals and help people better understand them. I love sharing my passion for reptiles with others and showing people why these animals are overlooked and underappreciated  .

I am excited to be joining the Herp Club and becoming part of a community of people who share my passion. In my new role, I look forward to learning from other members, gaining more hands-on experience, and sharing what I have learned over the years. I am especially interested in opportunities involving research, husbandry, and educating others about reptiles and amphibians. I hope to continue developing my skills, learning about different species and their natural habitats, and connecting with others who share similar interests.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the club and look forward to getting involved and learning from the experience.

Hello! My name is Fisher, and I’m a sophomore majoring in Animal Studies. I’ve worked in several hands-on animal husbandry roles, including raising baby goats and helping care for injured horses. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in animal care and a lot of appreciation for the work that goes into it. For the past two summers, I’ve worked as the lead biologist at a marine science–focused summer camp. There, I work with sea turtles by locating and monitoring nests along with administering PIT and flipper tags as part of conservation efforts. I’m excited about the opportunity to create public-facing content while gaining experience working with other professional organizations.

My name is Brooklynn Bryant! I’m an Eckerd graduate of 2030, double majoring in Animal Studies and Environmental Studies, and minoring in Biology. I’m excited to have the chance to work directly with these fascinating reptiles and show my experiences with the world through the media! I’m hoping to further my own knowledge while working in the HERP Laboratory, also spreading the team’s work and educating the public on these studies. The media is a large part of people’s everyday lives, so I think it’s important to educate them on the world they live in while also keeping things interesting! Outside of being the Video Creator for the HERP Laboratory, I’m also a radio host, designer, panelist, digital artist, and musician. When I’m not busy, you’ll find me spending time with my two cats: Comet, a Norwegian forest cat, and Penelope, a domestic longhaired tuxedo cat. I have a strong passion for caring for all life around me, but these two cats are my biggest passion. While I’m not exactly sure what I want to do after I get my Master’s Degree, I do know that I want to make a difference in the world and make our Earth a better place for all living and nonliving beings.

Hi! My name is Gisele Dawkins and I am the Education Manager for the HERP Lab. I love to write and ensure all my pieces are accessible to a general audience. I am creative and also love art in general. My intended major is Biology on a Pre-Vet track with a minor in animal studies. I hope to make an impact in my role and inform readers about animal husbandry and welfare, along with general Herpetology information. Along with the support of my team I plan to write educational articles and conduct some research of my own eventually! It’s an honor to be in this position and I hope I make a great impact in my role!

Hi, my name is Phillip Eckert! I am an animal studies major at Eckerd College and have served as a conservation guide at the Dallas Zoo’s herpetarium. I believes reptiles and amphibians deserve appreciation by today’s society and my work strives to educate the public about their value to local ecosystems and the need to preserve natural habitats. I am particular interest in the evolutionary history and ecological niches of crocodilians. As apex predators, crocodilians and many of their past relatives played an important part in keeping certain animal populations in check. After graduation, I plan to continue playing a role in promoting conservation of wildlife and wild places.

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Hello, my name is Nat Harris, and I’m a student here at Eckerd College. I plan to Major in Marine Biology with a minor in Visual Arts. I’ve been interested in animals of all sorts ever since I was a child, and I’m excited to be able to pursue an education that involves my favorite category of living organisms; Marine life. From sea slugs to blue whales, I’m intrigued by all the animals and organisms that call the ocean their home. Visual arts have also been a major part of my life, especially painting and drawing, and I’m glad I can continue to improve myself and my art here at Eckerd. I was born and raised in Indiana where I spent my childhood catching critters and stopping to stare at every cow I came across. Here in Florida the wildlife is even more beautiful and biodiverse, and while I miss my home and hate the heat, I’m eager to learn more about the organisms that inhabit Florida and what effects they have on the local ecosystems and the lives of people who call this state their home. I will be joining the HERP Lab as an Education Assistant. I’m looking forward to teaching others about leopard geckos while also learning more about leopard geckos myself. I grew up surrounded by teachers and educators and have seen the effects that their lessons have had on others firsthand, and I’m excited to help people learn in whatever way I can.

My name is Zekiel, and I’m incredibly excited to get the opportunity to work closely with various species of reptiles! Animals in general have been quite a large part of my life for a while, and I have had wonderful experiences in the past working with rescues and learning about animal care. I have learned a lot in regards to their care and behavior simply from having many pets of my own, so I’m very interested in what I can learn from a more professional setting! Hopefully, this will give me valuable knowledge as I aspire to achieve my own career in research centered around reptiles. 

Hi! My name is Cole Starrett. I am currently a junior, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I am passionate about marine life and animal biology, conservation, and preservation. My career aspirations include becoming a large animal veterinarian. I spent the last several summers working on a shark tagging vessel, out of Ocean City, Maryland. Our directive is to advance research via tagging and analysis of sharks of all species, including Great Whites. I most recently did research work through Eckerd in the Amazon Rainforest and in the jungle of Belize. My other interests include traveling, surfing, and shark research. I’m excited to be a part of this lab with great people, further increasing my knowledge and experience with animals in a research-based context.

I’m an undergraduate marine science major with minors in Chemistry and Spanish. I have previous research experience in harmful algal bloom (HAB) reporting and in a lab studying environmental stress responses in crabs, in addition to keeping two reptiles of my own, Elbow, the ball python, and Hypatia, an African Fat-Tailed Gecko, as well as other species in the past, including Leopard and Gargoyle Geckos. I’m excited to join the herpetological lab to expand my research experience into terrestrial and amphibious systems and to study herpetofauna behavior and cognition. My long-term goal is to pursue a PhD and work as a researcher focused on animal biology and ecology.

I am an Animal Studies major with a Film minor. With over 10 years of reptile care experience alongside my brother, I have a strong background in husbandry and enclosure design, particularly reptile lighting and plants.

In the HERP Lab, I am currently working on a lighting paper and contributing to the iNaturalist project. My main focus is on reptile lighting and its role in welfare and enclosure design.

Hello! My name is Katelyn and I am from Clemson, SC. I’ve always been fascinated by reptiles and have cared for a variety of species as pets. I have worked multiple jobs that care for companion, farm and exotic animals. This past year I obtained my apprentice falconry license which has allowed me to work with a red-tailed hawk. I am very excited to be involved in the HERP Lab, and look forward to working with reptiles through research and collaborating with other team members who are also passionate about animal welfare. For the past few years, I have been working at a mixed-animal veterinary clinic. I am very passionate about animal conservation and plan on becoming a veterinarian with a specialization in zoo or wildlife medicine!

Hi! I’m Justice Booker. I am achieving a degree in Animal studies and Film. When I'm not at work, you can often find me enjoying adventures and spending quality time with my pet dog. I gained valuable experience in animal husbandry, caring for horses and many other animals like emus. One of my favorite things on campus is the farm. We focus on growing crops for our college community and maintaining a successful compost system. Now, I can't wait to get involved in reptile research at the lab!

I’m interested in the lab because I want to learn more about good animal welfare, how to care for animals that are under human care, and what we can do to help animals under human care. I am a junior and majoring in animal studies and environmental studies. Although I don’t know much about reptiles, this is giving me the chance to learn, grow, and improve my knowledge.

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I'm 19 years old, working as a lead researcher for Professor Rickman. I initially took an interest in the lab because I wanted to get involved in animal care. I was offered the position of assistant researcher, and after putting in some hard work, I was promoted to a lead! I've had my own crested geckos before, so having the opportunity to work with more cresties was something I couldn't pass up. I'm majoring in Animal Studies and minoring in Marine Science. I absolutely love working with the lab, and it means the world to me that this work will better the welfare for other herptiles!

Handling Lead Graduate Researcher

Mylee Whitus

I am interested in the herp lab because animal welfare within pet settings, particularly business, is often ignored not because of a lack of empathy but rather a lack of knowledge. I am currently a Marine Biology Major with a minor in Animal studies. While I never kept any reptiles in the past, I have been keeping aquariums and various terrestrial insects in my care since I was four and care deeply about the lives that are in my hands.I am hoping that my experience in the Hero Lab will allow me to better take care of my own animals and allow me to educate others who love animals but might not necessarily understand the requirements of them. 

I’m a Marine Science major with a minor in Environmental Studies. I’ve never worked with reptiles before, but I’ve always found them interesting, and I’m glad I finally have a chance to interact with them up close. I joined the lab primarily because I’m looking for research experience and practice with handling animals in a lab setting, as well as collecting and analyzing data. My friend recommended the lab to me after spending a winter term in the Amazon with Professor Rickman! 

Hi! My name is Sean, and I am currently a first-year student at Eckerd College. I am from St. Petersburg, FL, and I am Majoring in Biology with a minor in Behavioral neuroscience. I plan on becoming a doctor eventually, although I don’t know what I want to specialize in yet. I don’t have much prior experience with reptiles, except for having had Hermit Crabs as pets, but I do have an interest in reptiles. Being from Florida, I have always been surrounded by them. I’ve been interested in animals and conservation since I was very little. I spent a large chunk of my childhood hiking, camping, and spending time in nature, and I feel my interests stemmed from this. In my new role, I am looking forward to being able to learn more about reptiles and getting to see them from a scientific lens.

Hi I’m Tristan and I’m majoring in Animal Studies and Environmental Studies with a minor in Marine Science. I'm looking forward to studying reptiles as I find them very interesting animals that are often overlooked in favor of other animal classes. I'm also hoping to learn more about animal and reptile care as I’m new to this type of thing.

My name is Diego Drozd, I am majoring in biology and minoring in Spanish and animal studies or psychology. I came to Florida from Maine in search of biodiversity (specifically of the herp kid).I first gained interest in reptiles and amphibians while catching frogs near my house, and snappers in my later years. I want to work in research and education of herpetofauna in tropical/subtropical ecosystems, to get out in the wild and observe the beauty that is nature. I am primarily interested in animal cognition and evolutionary biology excuse of the logic of biological mechanisms behavior. Besides that I like doing wildlife illustration and photography, biking, volleyball and video games. I'm really excited to get started as an assistant researcher in the lab, working with herps and gaining experience in research methods I could be potentially using in a future job.I approach each opportunity with an open mind as to gain insight into my interests, strengths and weaknesses. Who knows, maybe I'll have a knack for coding, or I'll never want to touch it again, important stuff. Additionally I'm excited to meet like minded people, passionate about ethology and herpetology. I know Eckerd is full of animal nerds but it will be nice to hone in on