The Ohio Biological Survey (OBS) is an inter-institutional consortium of colleges, universities, museums, agencies, metro parks, arboreta, zoos, other organizations, and individuals in Ohio and the surrounding region. By cooperating with the professional staffs of membership, OBS produces and disseminates objective scientific and technical information concerning the flora and fauna of Ohio and areas of which Ohio is an integral part.
Constance Hausman is the Senior Conservation Science Manager at Cleveland Metroparks where she has worked since 2010. Her work currently focuses on understanding changes that occur in our natural areas due to forest pests and pathogens, climate change, habitat destruction and invasive species in order to rehabilitate our native forests through restoration and management. She earned her Ph.D. from Kent State University and both her B.S and M.S. from Bowling Green State University. Connie has also served as the Executive Director of the Ohio Biological Survey since 2017.
Frank received a combined BS/MS in Environmental Interpretation from the School of Natural Resources at the Ohio State University. For the next several years he worked as a Camp Counselor before landing a full time job at ODNR in the Abandoned Mined Lands program for the next 12 years. After the birth of their son, Frank became a full time stay-at-home parent for an additional 12 years. Once their son was out of elementary school, in 2007, Frank started work at a library. He retired in 2014. Frank has been OBS’s Office Manager since 2010.
To get in touch with Frank or with the Ohio Biological Survey office, you can email info@ohiobiologicalsurvey.org or call the office number (614-457-8787) and leave a message.
Gene Kritsky, a native of North Dakota, grew up with an interest in natural history. As a kid, he collected fossils in Montana and the Dakotas, and insects in Florida. As a teenager he was enthralled by Egyptology and greatly influenced by the writings of Charles Darwin. Kritsky received his BA in Biology from Indiana University in 1974, and his MS and PhD in Entomology from the University of Illinois in 1976 and 1977 respectively. He is the Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. He has been the Business Manager and Publications Director of OBS since 2011.
Mark Dilley earned a B.S. in Natural Resources (Fisheries Management) in 1991 and a M.S. in Environmental Science (specializing in wetlands) in 2003, both from The Ohio State University. He and his wife Christine are co-owners of a WBE, WOSB, and EDGE-certified environmental consulting firm, MAD Scientist Associates, specializing in ecological and wetland consulting. He is also a lecturer at The Ohio State University, where he teaches Wetland Ecology & Restoration.
Mark has nearly 30 years of experience as a field biologist, ecologist, and wetland scientist. He is an EPA-certified Level 3 Qualified Data Collector (QDC) for fish and habitat studies in Ohio, a Certified Senior Ecologist, Certified Ecological Restoration Professional (CERP), and Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS). Mark has conducted ecological surveys and ecological risk assessments on RCRA and Superfund sites in over 11 states for a variety of clients, including Department of Energy, NASA, the U.S. military, landfills, and the manufacturing industry. His academic research has focused on biological monitoring of streams and rivers and atrazine (agricultural herbicide) fate and transport processes in constructed wetlands. In his current role, he manages several dozen projects annually involving ecological surveys; environmental education; wetland delineation, permitting, and assessment; and wetland restoration and creation – ranging conventional storm water detention basin wetland retrofits and landscape-scale restoration projects covering dozens to hundreds of acres. Mark and the MAD Scientist Team also provide construction oversight, planting and invasive species control services for a wide variety of public and private clients.
Mark joined the OBS Board in 2013 and became Board President in 2015, a role in which he continues to serve.
Affiliation MAD Scientist Associates: https://madscientistassociates.net/
Jason is the Director of the Richland County Park District. He received his A.A.S. degrees in Floriculture Design and Marketing and Greenhouse Production and Management from OSU/ATI, his Bachelor’s degree in Conservation Science from Muskingum University and his MS degree in Plant and Environmental Biology from Ohio University. Jason also currently serves as a research associate and curator of the William Adams Herbarium at Muskingum University.
Jason is a life-long resident of the state of Ohio and spends a great deal of his free time bird watching and botanizing around the Great Lakes area. His love of the environment and natural history has fostered a keen interest in the conservation and preservation of Ohio’s flora, fauna and natural areas, so that future generations will be able to experience the natural wonders that Ohio has to offer.
Jim Lane is an award winning American wildlife photographer, naturalist and author who has contributed to an appreciation of wildlife and the natural world immediately around us. The son of an amateur nature photographer Lane continues and deepens that tradition. His view of the world zooms out to sweeping natural sunrises and zooms in to reveal the detail on a bird’s plumage. While he has been to remote locales like Galapagos and the Caribbean, he is also known for his dozens of photographic articles on wildlife you don’t have to travel to appreciate. He offers an in-depth, detailed look at what is often right in front of us and overlooked. He is the author of a book series on Ohio’s wildlife and his art graces homes across the country and you can find it @jblane001 on Instagram. His day job is strategy consulting for the firm he founded and leads: Redbank Advisors LLC.
My affiliation is www.redbankadvisors.com
Dan Hodges is a naturalist in west-central Ohio. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Zoology and Env Science and currently he is the Education Supervisor for the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District in Allen County. Dan loves being able to share his passion and energy for the natural world with other people! He tries to do that in various ways including nature programming, interpretative signage, nature segments with the local news, developing as a nature photographer, building a backyard habitat, and more! If Dan isn’t spending time outdoors with his wife and two kids (7 and 3), you might find him listening to DMB, watching the Browns, playing guitar, encouraging his fat cat to exercise, or perhaps all of the above at the same time!
Dave McShaffrey is Professor of Biology, Environmental Science and Leadership at Marietta College. He completed his BS and MS at the University of Akron and his PhD in Entomology at Purdue. Since joining Marietta College in 1989 he has worked with the Ohio Odonata Survey (later to become the Ohio Odonata Society); he did field work and museum research as well as writing 5 chapters and co-editing the 2002 book “Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio” published by the Ohio Biological Survey, and wrote portions of the ODNR pamphlet on Odonata. He has been on both the advisory board and the board of trustees of the OBS. His photographs have appeared in a number of journal articles, magazines, textbooks and field guides. He is currently working on a field guide to Ohio Odonata.
Eugene is a fisheries biologist by training and applied-limnology jack of all trades in practice; Program Director for Aquatic Ecosystems with Ohio State University Extension; and charged with outreach, classroom teaching, and research. He joined the Ohio Biological Survey Board of Trustees in 2018 and is active with several additional advisory committees and professional organizations. Fully embracing nerd status, he moonlights as a classical musician and serves as Artistic Director of the Columbus Guitar Society’s concert series.
Affiliation: Ohio State University, School of Environment and Natural Resources (https://senr.osu.edu/)
Dr. Kristin Stanford received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University. She has been coordinating Lake Erie watersnake (LEWS) conservation for more than 20 years and served as the Recovery Coordinator from 2003-2011 until the snake was successfully delisted. She founded the Respect the Snake initiative (www.respectthesnake.com) which continues to facilitate the research, management and outreach needed to conserve the LEWS and other native snake species. She served as the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Ohio State University’s biological field station, Stone Laboratory from 2012-2022 and was responsible for overseeing logistics for this nationally recognized education and outreach program before recently accepting the role of Wildlife Diversity Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.
Logan Minter has been involved in the agricultural production and natural resource conservation profession for over 20 years. He is an Associate Professor and Field Specialist for Specialty Crops in the OSU Department of Extension and holds a courtesy appointment in the OSU Department of Horticulture and Crop Sciences. His graduate training focused largely on integrated past management and pollinator conservation. Previously, he served as faculty at Shawnee State University focused on teaching plant science and mentoring undergraduate research related to plant production and diverse topics in natural history and natural resources conservation. Logan’s current and anticipated research and extension efforts focus on production specialty crops (hops, paw paws, vegetables, and culinary mushrooms), food security in rural and urban settings, and management of natural habitats for wild crops.
Executive Director Toledo Metroparks (retired)
Steve has been on the OBS board for over ten years.
He has worked for four different park districts across Ohio, serving as the Director of three of those. He is still actively engaged with many conservation initiatives.
Professional Affiliations
National Association of County Rec. and Park Officials (past President)
Cleveland Museum of Natural History Trout Club (Board Vice President)
Ohio Biological Survey (Board)
Conneaut Creek Conservation Club (Past President, Consultant)
Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA)
Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA)
Steve is a performing musician, writing songs often inspired by Ohio history and landscape.
Judy is the founder of Chrysalis in Time‚ the first Ohio chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Judy also serves on the board of the Ohio Bluebird Society, Ohio Ornithological Society (Conservation Committee) and the Ohio Biological Survey. She has co-authored two natural history guides, “Dragonflies & Damselflies of Northeast Ohio” and “Goldenrods of Northeast Ohio: A Field Guide to Identification & Natural History.” For the past 20+ years, Judy was a Conservation Specialist in the Natural Areas Division of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. As a former Petroleum Geologist and science teacher, Judy loves to learn about and share her passion for the natural world through field trips, interpretive programs, and photography. Learn more about Judy’s latest adventures & offerings through her new company, Nature Spark!