Current Personnel
Connor Burgin
Graduate Assistant
Connor is a PhD Candidate studying mammal systematics and evolution, particularly of collared lemmings.
Eve Rowland
Graduate Assistant
Eve is a doctoral student in the Gulisija Computational Biology Lab at UNM. She hopes to find ways to combine museum research and computational biology. She has previously worked at the Florida Museum in the Mammal Division.
Samantha Bonawitz
Graduate Assistant
Sam is a graduate student in the Museum Studies program. During her undergraduate career, she discovered that she loves how museums can generate both discussion and personal reflection. She is interested in the management of natural history collections and hopes to learn more about the use and care of genomic data.
Serenity Snider
Undergraduate Museum Technician
Serenity is a majoring in Biology and minoring in both Chemistry and Museum Studies. They enjoy the idea of evolutionary zoology, physiology, and endocrinology as potential research pathways, hoping to utilize museum collections throughout their career.
Kane Anaya
Undergraduate Museum Technician
Kane is an undergraduate student studying biology. He works in the Cook Molecular Evolution and Ecology Lab at UNM as an ASSURE scholar. He hopes to work in a wildlife field and is working at MSB to gain skills in museum collections.
Audrey Vanderhee
Undergraduate Museum Technician
Audrey is an undergraduate biology student with an interest in wildlife biology and zoonotic diseases. Her time at the MSB has given her hands on experience and knowledge in her field and deepened her love for biology!
Trinity Swisher
Undergraduate Volunteer
Trinity is majoring in biology and minoring in Environmental Science. Her concentration is conservation, but she hopes to do some work in wildlife rehab. Driven to preserve biodiversity, she wants to gain knowledge to help with future research opportunities and work with mammals.
Sophia Aguilar
Undergraduate Volunteer
Sophia is currently studying to major in Biology to pursue her passion for working with animals, either in zoology or veterinary practices. She believes her involvement at the MSM will lead to even greater things for both the museum and her future!
Katie Rielage
High School Volunteer
Katie is a junior at Bosque School studying her favorite animal, North American porcupines, and learning radio-collaring capture procedures. She is interested in the MSB to gain skills needed to pursue a career in veterinary medicine and wildlife biology.
Giovanni Luhman
Undergraduate Volunteer
Giovanni is a pre-veterinary student. He is currently in his last year of undergraduate studies and plans to pursue a career in wildlife and conservation medicine. He is passionate about biodynamics, regenerative ecology, and complementary and alternative medicine.
Dinu Kaviratne
Undergraduate Volunteer
Dinu is a biology major looking to further his knowledge in biology by volunteering at the MSB. He is interested in gaining skills and further understanding of the field through hands-on experience.
Grace Peters
Undergraduate Volunteer
Grace is an undergraduate student majoring in Biology. She has a passion for wildlife biology and hopes to pursue a career in vertebrate conservation. She is excited to work at the MSB, gain some hands-on experience, and spend time learning about specimen collections.
Makina Rush
Volunteer
Makina graduated in 2023 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. Her passion is functional and alternative medicine, which she intends to use for healing the mind, body, and soul. She also dabbles in curating sustainable fashion and forgotten treasures!
Shaya Kaviratne
Undergraduate Volunteer
Shaya is a biology major who is studying to become a veterinarian doctor. She is gaining some experience in the Division of Mammals as her first step in achieving that goal.
Lucas Ward
Highs School Volunteer
Lucas is a senior in high school. He loves animals and spending time outdoors. He is interested in the MSB as a way to learn the skills necessary to study and eventually work in the conservation and wildlife field.
Olivia Cole
Remote Undergraduate Volunteer
Olivia is pursuing a BS in Anthropology with a concentration in Human Biology and a minor in Biology. She hopes to use the skills she learns from her classes and time at the MSB to pursue a graduate education in forensic anthropology.
