This summer at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge you will see many news faces. They could be new permanent employees, temporary employees working for the summer, or new interns.

New permanent faces include Amanda Avery and Charlene Swartz. Wildlife Biologist, Amanda Avery, Is a recent graduate of Virginia Tech and native of Virginia Beach, VA. She joined the staff of Chincoteague Refuge on April 21, 2002.

Tractor Operator, Charlene Swartz, transferred to Chincoteague Refuge from Assateague Island National Seashore on March 10, 2002. Charlene is a native of Chincoteague, VA, and now resides in New Church, VA, with her husband, daughter and son.

Our summer seasonal law enforcement staff includes two new faces and one returning veteran. Celeste Reagan from Memphis, TN, is returning to Chincoteague Refuge for her third summer.. Our two new officers hired for the summer am George Hunkovic, from Chincoteague, VA, and Frank Polyak, from Ridley Township, PA.

Park Ranger, Cara Rolander, is the newest addition to our fee collection staff. Cara Rolander, a recent graduate of Longwood College, Farmville, VA, and native of Bloxom, VA, joined the staff on June 2, 2002. Returning for another summer season, you will be greeted by Rebecca Quinn, Juanita Baier, Tam Word, and Cindy Goddard.

Our interns come to us from all over the country. They are college students who work for a small stipend and receive free room and board. They gain valuable work experience that could help them later in their careers when they am applying for employment. Our interns help us tremendously. It would be very hard to accomplish the amount of work we do for wildlife without them.

Biology interns monitor plovers on the refuge and on the lower islands south of the refuge, as well as the endangered Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel. Public use interns help visitors in the Visitor Center and conduct various nature, walks and programs. We will also have an intern dedicated to identifying and mapping invasive plant species on the refuge.

Interns, their college and home town, are:
Kelly Berger
- Virginia Tech
- Arlington, VA
Amy Croft
- Penn. State University
- Severna Park, MD
Katherine Gusmana - graduated in May
- Rutgers University
- Highland Park, NJ
Michael Nichols
- Virginia Tech
- Bent Mountain, VA
Kate Bollie
- Wheaton College
- West Palm Beach, FL
Colin Sedon
- University of Maine
- Smyrna, NY
Emily Weiser
- Colby College
- Farmington, UT
Lauren Billodeaux
- Virginia Tech
- Oak Hill, VA
Rebecca Smith - graduated in May
-Texas A&M
- Austin, TX
Dana Eley
- Rutgers University
- Maple Shade, NJ
Nicole Helser
- Ohio State
- Lima, OH
Stephanie Ritter
- Southwest University
- Georgetown, TX
Michelle Kaplan
- Univ. of Mass.
- Dix Hills, NY

Susan Merritt
Administrative Officer, CNWR