Board & Staff

Oliver Cygan was born and raised in south Minneapolis. He moved north to get his BA in Communications from the University of Minnesota - Duluth. After graduating in the spring of 2020, he joined AmeriCorps NCCC, a community service organization, where he worked and traveled with a team of young adults. During his internship with Minnesota Valley, he hopes to gain valuable experience that will allow him to continue to work in conservation. Outside of work, Oliver enjoys making art, cooking and sudoku puzzles.

Samantha (Sam) moved to Minnesota from Maine in September for the Teaching Internship opportunity on the Refuge. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Environmental Planning and Policy. She also played competitive tennis. Sam has been working with children for over ten years and feels working for the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a great opportunity to develop her professional teaching skills.

Teagan is originally from southeastern Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, but moved to Minnesota for college. She graduated in May 2021 from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and loved it here so much that she decided to stay. She now lives with several of her friends and their two cats. In her free time, she enjoys doing cross-stitch and writing.

Joann grew up in Crystal, MN and attended the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities to study Conservation Biology. She became interested in environmental education when she saw how fun it was to answer questions about the natural world and handle nontraditional animals like cockroaches, snakes and tarantulas as an interpretive guide at the Bell Museum.

Dana grew up in the Twin Cities area and has always had a passion for learning about and being around animals. Many of her early experiences were spent at the Minnesota Zoo, where she volunteered with zoo camps. She attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she obtained a degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior and a minor in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. Through both academic and volunteer experiences, she quickly developed an affinity for birds and has since enjoyed both birdwatching and volunteering with captive birds whenever she can.

Prior to starting her apprenticeship with the Trust and Refuge in January 2022, Dana served with Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, where she gained valuable skills in habitat restoration and developed a deep admiration for prairie ecosystems. She is looking forward to learning about the different habitat types present in the refuge and helping to restore and conserve land for all of the living entities that call the Refuge home.

Starting in 2022 as one of the Conservation Biology Apprentices, Theresa will be assisting USFWS staff on ecosystem management and habitat projects within the Refuge and Wetland Management Districts. Prior to starting with the Trust, Theresa earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with emphasis on Forest and Natural Resource Management as well as Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. During her time in college, she had internship opportunities with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and USDA Forest Service.

Born and raised in Tampa FL, Theresa spent all childhood summers in Minnesota with close family. Her fascination and admiration towards the environment started at a young age exploring the area around her home in Florida and cabin in Minnesota. When not out doing field work, Theresa likes to go fishing. She also enjoys acrylic landscape paintings, kayaking, gardening, and decorative baking.

Melisa Rodriguez graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities with a degree in Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Initially, Melisa gained experience as a wildlife field technician where she surveyed deer, insects and birds. Next, she wanted to expand her communication skills and took a year of service as a MN GreenCorps member focused on community outreach. At her host site with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Get the Lead Out program, Melisa enjoyed creating resources and reaching out to community members on the impact of lead fishing tackle on the Common Loon. She is excited to learn more about the strategies of engaging the community to the Refuge through this apprenticeship.

Melisa is a native Minnesotan and has a cockatiel named Jasper. She enjoys birding, crafting and hanging out with her niece.

Mary jump started her career in the environmental field during high school as a member of the Mississippi River Green Team. She learned early on she was passionate about conservation and education. Mary has explored opportunities through different organizations, including working with the National Park Service as a River Fellow Educator where she learned to stern a voyageur canoe carrying ten individuals and provide interpretation about the Mississippi River and the history behind it. Her pathway then led her to work with Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge as a Biology Intern.

In 2019, Mary gained experience in road structure and city planning as a Transportation Maintenance Repairs Intern with the City of Minneapolis. In 2021, she returned to the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board as a Research Assistant, working in community outreach and master planning.

Mary is excited to bring her skills and experience back to Minnesota Valley in her new role as the Community Outreach Apprentice. She hopes to create partnerships between the public and nature so that friends and family will continue to protect and support wildlife.