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Spruce Creek Keystone Team 2004/2005

Steven Torgerson
Department of Landscape Architecture/M.L.A.

Steven Torgerson is a native of Ogden, Utah.
I received an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture from Utah State University in 1999. I spent 4 years, 1999 to 2003, working as a landscape architect in a private practice firm, and later with the U.S. Forest Service, doing a variety of work including scenery management, neighborhood master planning, site design and construction management.
I began a graduate degree in landscape architecture at The Penn State University with the Center for Watershed Stewardship in Fall 2003.

Bryan Lees
School of Forest Resources/M.S. in Forest Resources

Advisor- Dr. Ferreri
I graduated from PSU in 1999 and spent several years working for a non-profit organization that focused on stream and river research. Much of my workexperience involved collection and identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Currently I am pursuing a MS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. I am interested in developing a better understanding of the ecology of lotic systems and the impacts that human activities have on these systems.

Emilie Cooper
School of Forest Resources/M.S. in Forest Resources

My name is Emilie Cooper. I am in the school of Forest Resources working for Mike Jacobson on Forest Property Taxes. I grew up in Punxsutawney, PA and received my undergraduate degree in Biology from Denison University. My reserch will include incentives for urban propery owners to participate in riparian restoration, hopefully I am still working on the details. I enjoy traveling, hiking and I am attempting to refurnish old furniture.

Nesha Mizel
School of Forest Resources/ M.S. in Forest Resources

I am a first year student in Forest Resources, my advisor is Dr. Bill Sharpe, and I have been working on a watershed liming experiment that began this summer. I came to Penn State this summer to begin work on the project, and I am originally from Western North Carolina.

Joshua Gruver
School of Forest Resources/M.S. in Forest Resources

My name is Joshua Gruver and I'm a first year masters student in Forest Resources. I am from Western Maryland originally. My advisor is Sandy Smith, who specializes in Youth and Extension Education. My undergraduate degree is in biochemistry with a focus on environmental issues from Virginia Tech. I worked in a laboratory for 2 years after I graduated, identifying and quantifying pesticides as part of the cooperative extension program at Tech. I joined the Peace Corps in 1996 and lived and taught high school science and math in Papua New Guinea until 1998, upon which I returned to the U.S. with a new found love for teaching and began educating environmentally in San Francisco. After 2 years as an environmental educator at a museum, my wife and I were hired as lead educators and trip leaders for Youth International, a traveling education program for 18-24 year olds interested in cultural and environmental awareness on an international level. We lead 2 trips, one to Africa and the other to Asia, a combined 8 months of travel. Sufficiently exhausted, my wife and I returned to Maryland, where I became a 6th grade science and math teacher at Sandy Spring Friends School near Washington D.C. and very much enjoyed not having to live out of a backpack.

Jennifer Sidleck
Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Environmental Pollution Control/M.S.

Master's Student in Environmental Pollution Control and Watershed Stewardship I am from Pottstown, PA and did my undergrad at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. My research is in Sinking Creek.

Lenny McNeal
Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Environmental Pollution Control/M.S.

Advisor: William Sharpe
Degree in Environmental Science from Gannon University
Before attending Penn State I taught environmental education on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Brent Bakner
Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Environmental Pollution Control/M.S.

Advisor: Bill Sharpe
Bio: My main focus of interest through the Center for Watershed Stewardship is water quality parameters and their effect on the biodiversity of a stream. My thesis paper is going to focus on several different aspects of water quality dealing with non-point and point source pollution problems. My mentor for the EPC program is Robert Hershey of Meisner and Earl, a hydrogeological consulting firm. I have interest for the future in the consulting field as well as aspiration to do some field work.

Hyeon Jeong Kim (Joyce)
School of Forest Resources/ Ph.D in Forest Resources

I am in the School of Forest Resources and my advisor is Dr. William E. Sharpe. I am originally from South Korea.