NREC Staff
Warren Gartner, Conservation Education Supervisor
Warren began working for the Division of Fish & Wildlife in 1985 as the Indiana Project WILD Coordinator. In 2005 he was promoted to the new Conservation Education Supervisor position. Warren received a bachelor’s of science in Zoology from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana and went on to Michigan State University to earn a master’s degree in Parks and Recreation Resources, focusing on environmental interpretation. He worked for several years teaching and directing programs in resident outdoor education centers in Michigan. In the summers he led wilderness trips for high school students, canoeing, biking, backpacking and horse packing all over the United States, Canada and Europe. Warren has taught an outdoor education course at Muskegon’s community college and served on the boards of Michigan and Indiana’s environmental education associations. Warren still loves to take wilderness camping trips with my wife and 2 sons. He has lots of hobbies, including photography, hunting, drawing, carving, and reading and finds wildlife and the outdoors a never-ending source of joy and amazement.
Lisa Ritter-McMahan, Hoosier Riverwatch Coordinator
Lisa Ritter-McMahan began her Riverwatch career in 2006 as the Volunteer Coordinator and moved into the Statewide Coordinator role in November 2007. Prior to Riverwatch, she worked in both the private and public sector, most recently as a watershed coordinator and then as an education specialist for a science center. When she is not playing in the stream, she enjoys spending time with her young sons and husband doing anything that will wear the boys out. Lisa received a B.S. in Biology from Indiana University and a Masters in Environmental Science from Miami of Ohio.
Mary Hayes, Project Wild and Project Wet Coordinator
As an education program coordinator for the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mary’s work primarily involves teaching basic concepts about our natural resources and helping people find the best teaching tool for the audience they’re trying to reach. To accomplish this, she uses Project WET, Project WILD and a variety of other environmental and science education resources and methods. Mary also presently co-chairs the Indiana Environmental Literacy working group. Throughout her five years with the DNR, her ultimate goal has always been to get people outside and actively engaged in our natural resources. Outside of work, Mary and her family spend time together gardening, reading, cooking, being outside, and throughout it all, always sharing a good laugh. Mary has a Bachelor’s in music and literature from DePauw University and a Masters specializing in environmental education from Indiana University.
Clint Kowalik, Go FishIN Coordinator
Clint grabbed the Go FishIN helm in June 2009. He was a DNR assistant fisheries biologist for southeastern Indiana the previous 6 years. A lifetime of fishing with his dad across the country, heaps of biology at the University of Illinois, conversations with Indiana anglers, and teaching kids about fish led him down the path of sport fishing education and into Go FishIN. When Clint is not fishing, he enjoys playing card games, board games, and yard games with his wife, daughter, and friends.
Donna Rogler, Project Learning Tree Coordinator
Project Learning Tree has been a part of Donna’s life since 1985. She currently works for the Division of Forestry since returning to Indiana from New York in 1999 to take over the duties as Project Learning Tree Coordinator for Indiana. Donna holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Resource Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and a Master of Science in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation from Syracuse University. The goal of her training has always been focused on teaching others about forestry. Prior to moving back to Indiana, Donna was the Education Director for the Catskill Forest Association. She helped get Project Learning Tree established in New York and served on the steering committee. In her spare time she enjoys native plant gardening, quilting, and reading.
