About the Amphibian Foundation

Leadership Team

Mark Mandica

Founder, Executive Director

Mark is a life-long amphibian conservationist, and leads novel conservation studies focused on endangered species. He is also a biologist, scientific illustrator, instructor, and musician. Most importantly, he is a father and husband.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4738-692X

Crystal Mandica

Founder, Director of Education

Crystal has piloted many unique, exciting programs, introducing hundreds of students to amphibians and reptiles. She is the lead instructor for Critter Camp and Atlanta Urban Ecologists, and manages multiple camps throughout the summer.

Research Team

These are the folks that work on the front lines of our amphibian conservation and urban ecology research programs, including assisted-metamorphosis, lab propagation, experiemental release, and field monitoring. These are the staff, faculty, and students in the Conservation Research Bridge Program. To find out more, visit: bridge.amphibianfoundation.org

Erin Thibodeau

Conservation Research Bridge Program Coordinator

Ashley Byrd

Conservation Collections Coordinator

Maura Dudley

Urban Ecologist

Sasha Greenspan

Amphibian Disease Biologist

Sam Mae

Research Assistant - Conservation Research Bridge Program

Roxana Pena

Research Assistant - Conservation Research Bridge Program

Collections Team

These are the dedicated folks who make sure the amphibians & reptiles in our research, conservation & education collections are all thriving.

Crystal Mandica

Collections Manager

Jess Kemper

Laboratory Manager

Michaela Daniel

Inventory Manager

Jeffrey Weiss

Facilities Manager

Anthony Mandica

Collections Assistant & Namer

Raquel Gonzalez

Flatwoods Salamander Lab Volunteer

Becca Rodriguez

Striped Newt Lab Volunteer

Mireille Lofquist

Striped Newt Lab Volunteer

Barb Marston

Blue-spotted & Pigeon Mountain Salamanders Volunteer

Vanessa Viviano-Perez

Blue-spotted & Pigeon Mountain Salamanders Volunteer

Cassie Ashby

Amphibian Lab Volunteer

Brittany Szafran

Amphibian Lab Volunteer

Amanda Ramsay

Amphibian Lab Volunteer

Nadine Contreras

Amphibian Lab Volunteer

Thomas Geaslen

Amphibian Lab Volunteer

Elizabeth Gritzmacher

Amphibian Lab Volunteer

Nicholas Holmes

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Cheri Robinson

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Abbie German

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Karl Guyton II

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Taylor Cone

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Alexa Ponder

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Isabella Challis

Squamate Lab Volunteer

Chelsea DesJardins

Special Collections Volunteer

Helana Broome

Special Collections Volunteer

Phoebe Offenberg

Special Collections Volunteer

Shiloh Bauer

Special Collections Volunteer

Evan Holland

Special Collections Volunteer

Abby Tharp

Special Collections Volunteer

Bella Kezios

Special Collections Volunteer

Brian Richards

Special Collections Volunteer

See available opportunities to get involved in Collections or other teams. get.amphibious.af

Communications Team

These are the folks that deliver AF's message through our popular articles, monthly newletters, and social media.

Erin Shebish

Communications Lead

Meg Hussey

Social Media Coordinator

Amanda Ramsay

Content Writer

Hikari Miya

AF Magazine Editor

Jess Thompson

Content Analyst

Emily Capps

Content Strategist

Education Team

These are the folks that bring dynamic, inspiring and education programs to our younger learners through Critter Camp, Critter Class, Critter Cafe, home-school programs, field trips, birthday parties, and virtual, online learning programs. You can learn more about those programs here.

Amanda Dahlgren

Education Coordinator

Taylor Cone

Educator

Thomas Geaslen

Educator

Jessica Shartouny

Educator

Roxana Pena

Educator

Chelsea Desjardins

Educator

Virtual Education Team

These are the folks that bring dynamic, inspiring and education programs to our younger learners through the Junior Master Herpetologist Programs, home-school programs, and virtual, online learning programs. You can learn more about those programs here.

Erin Shebish

Virtual Education Coordinator

Maryann Barbon

Junior Master Herpetologist Lead Instructor

Tess Yaney

Educator

Ana Sparks

Educator

Boris Berlijn

Educator

Tina Bullock

Educator

Team Venom

These are the folks that run our volunteer Copperhead Hotline and rescue Copperheads in metro Atlanta, as well as offer the Venomous Training & Certification Workshops throughout the year — the first weekend of every other month.

Maryann Barbon

Lead Venomous Instructor

Michael Goldman

Venomous Instructor

Marjan Ghadrdan

Venomous Instructor

Sami Netherton

Venomous Instructor

Vahab Rajaei

Copperhead Hotline Coordinator + Venomous Instructional Asssistant

Amanda Dahlgren

Venomous Instructional Assistant

Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program (MAAMP) Staff

These are the folks running the Community Science component of the Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program (maamp.us)

Marjan Ghadrdan

MAAMP Coordinator

Sami Netherton

MAAMP Assistant

Jordan Ellison

MAAMP Assistant

Mike Montgomery

MAAMP Assistant

Board of Advisors

Dorothy Winhold

Berkshire Hathaway

Board Chair

Joel Sartore

National Geographic and Photo Ark

Laura Turner Seydel (Advisor)

Turner Foundation and Captain Planet Foundation

Michael Goldman

Chris Jenkins

Orianne Society

Nancy Jones

Blue Heron Nature Preserve

Scientific Advisory Board

Tobias Landberg

Science Advisory Board Chair

Duncan Irschick

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Susan Walls

USGS - Amphibian Research & Monitoring Initiative

John Jensen

Georgia Department of Natural Resources (retired)

Jen Stabile

Army Corps of Engineers

Harold Mitchell

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Andrew Gray

Curator of Herpetology - The Manchester Museum

AF Alumni

We are grateful for the opportunities to work with so many amazing, passionate, and dedicated people along the way ...

Ana Luisa Ahern

Amanda Ramirez

Jasmine Little

Katie Roberts

Brie Galbreath

Maya Risin

Charifa Sidi

Leo Ware

Danya Vass

Lacey Avery

Erin Frew

Ahmad Ansar

Javiera Constanzo

Emily Reynolds

Emma Slutsker

Jenny Wilson

Ryan Myers

Kellen Murphy

Ajoke Ifarinu-Ojelade

Melanie Valle

Jasmine Williamson

Dani Davis

Susan Sweeney

Morgan Peek

Tessa Winbigler

Bree Gentry

Kyra Bassett

Yi YIn

TieuAnh Phung

Elliott Diggs

Claire Chinery

Gabe Andrle

Yarrow Koning

Juan Taquechel

Danielle Crownover

Jin Uzeda

Sierra Sutton

Kendra Hernandez

Kelsey Strickland

Shania Osgood

Ellen Dymit

Virginia Williams

Brooke Clark

Christine Beard

Kiedon Bryant

Audrey Pepi

Marty Sims

Henry Adams

Cheyenne Hogan

Einola Carter

Sophia Charuhas

Cammie Caldwell

DJ Welch

Susie Masecar DVM

Victoria Gould

Jermiko Sims

Will Peninger

Michael Berry

Camelia Hood

Abby Needell

Alex Jimenez

Dani Glover

Emma Brown

Amanda Sargent

Alyssa Bachmeier

Lyssa-Jean Yonezawa

Kevin Blackwell

Tessa Cafritz

Jake Kassel

Maya Nelson

Abbie Loughman

Carola Garcia Manzano

Jennifer Turner

Polly Strott

Katie Clayton

William Cooper

Partnerships

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team leader | We have worked with USFWS since 2012 on a recovery plan for the imperiled flatwoods salamanders - Ambystoma cingulatum and A. bishopi. Most recently, we are working with the service on the captive breeding and experimental release of Gopher Frogs, Rana capito.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team member | We have partnered with GA DNR since 2009 on Gopher Frog, Flatwoods Salamander, and other native amphibian initiatives. We also work with them on outreach projects and amphibian monitoring in the state.

US Geological Survey

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team member | We have partnered with USGS for two major initiatives. The first was in 2003 for a Critical Ecosystems project modeling amphibian communities in Everglades National Park, FL and most recently on the recovery plan for flatwoods salamanders.

Florida Fish and Wildlife

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team member | We work with FFWCC at the Florida sites for Ambystoma cingulatum, the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander, mostly with field sampling of larvae at St Marks WIldlife Refuge and Appalachicola National Forest. We also collaborate on the Striped Newt Repatriation Program.

The Turner Foundation

The Turner Foundation has been a huge supporter of our work, particularly with the recovery of the federally listed Frosted Flatwoods Salamander. The Turner Foundation's support enabled us to build the Flatwoods Salamander Lab and the Amphibian Research and Conservation Center.

Turner Endangered Species Fund

We are partnering with the Turner Endangered Species fund on a comprehensive amphibian study of the Avalon property in north Florida, as well as habitat restoration work for the conservation of four target imperiled amphoibian species from that region: Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders, Gopher Frogs, Striped Newts, and Ornate Chorus Frogs.

Andrew Sabin Family Foundation

Andy Sabin and the ASFF have been a important partner in their support of the construction of the Amphibian Research and Conservation Center. The A.R.C.C. is a completely unique conservation tool, located at the Amphibian Foundation for one purpose: the captive propagation of imperiled North American amphibians. It wouldn't have been possible without the contributions of the ASFF.

Southern Conservation Partners

Southern Conservation Partners helps local initiatives and communities across the southern U.S. to save, restore, and enhance premier environmental resources and natural heritage assets. We promote innovative collaborations designed to conserve and honor the South's natural heritage and ecological health. SCP is the fiscal sponsor of the Amphibian Foundation

Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

We have worked closely with SEPARC over the past 12 years, sponsoring meetings and helping to make sure the conferences run smoothly.

PhotoArk

We have worked with Joel Sartore on both his Photo Ark initiative and on the feature documentary — Racing Extinction. He is on our Board of Directors and has been a huge supporter of our work, including the incredible donation of his Vanishing Amphibians exhibit of incredible photography, which is on permanent display in our Amphibious AF Meeting Room.

Atlanta Science Tavern

We have partnered with the Atlanta Science Tavern many times over the last several years. The AST strongly supports and promotes the Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program and our amphibian identification workshops. We also put on a joint production with the AST for the 'Ribbit Exhibit' a month-long gallery at Kavarna Coffee in Decatur featuring the scientific illustrations of our interns.

Georgia Reptile Society

We partner with the Georgia Reptile Society to increase awareness of reptiles and amphibians and participate in their Georgia Reptile Experience. The GRS are huge supporters of the Amphibian Foundation, assisting us in the production of promotional materials to support the Foundation, and other fundraising opportunities.

Georgia Tech

We have partnered with GA Tech on many projects since 2010. From instructing classes such as 'The Biomechanics of Amphibian Feeding' and 'Drawing on Nature' to mentoring student interns in biology, conservation and scientific illustration. Most recently, researching performance and biomechanics of captive Gopher Frogs.

Agnes Scott College

We are partnering with Agnes Scott College by developing two amphibian courses through the Continuing Education program and are open to adults (from any educational background) who would like to take a deep dive into the world of amphibians. The Biology of Amphibians, first offered in March 2018, and the Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians.

Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy is a valuable partner and supporter of the Foundation. We have worked with ARC to provide a need-based scholarship program for our Critter Camps to insure that anyone who wants to join us for camp can! ARC also supports our critical conservation efforts for the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander.

University of Georgia

UGA is lead on Gopher Frog ecological research in Georgia. Particularly on the head-start initiative and experimental release at Williams Bluff. We partner with them on the ecological research portion of the Gopher Frog Experimental Release program as well as captive propagation and head-starting the baby Gopher Frogs.

Savannah River Ecology Lab

We have partnered with staff from SREL for field sampling of the endangered Flatwoods Salamander in GA, FL and SC.

Virginia Tech

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team member | For many years, biologists from VA Tech have been researching the federally endangered Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander populations at Eglin Air Force Base in FL. We have been partnering with them since 2012 on the recovery of the Flatwoods Salamanders.

University of Massachusetts

This all started at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, working in the Herpetology collections at the Massachusetts Museum of Natural History, and working in the departments of Biology as well as Wildlife and Conservation. Now we are working on the Digital Life Project - Frogs of the World with the Irschick Lab at UMass.

Berry College

We are partnering with Berry College on a variety of biology, ecology and cosnervation projects in GA and their new Biological Research Station of 26,000 acres.

University of Oklahoma

We are working with OU on the Digital Life - Frogs of the World Project.

Captain Planet

We serve the Captain Planet Foundation as 'Conservation Heroes' working with regional schools on amphibian conservation based projects.

West Atlanta Watershed Alliance

We have partnered with WAWA on several occasions such as Amphibian Monitoring, training young 'citizen scientists', bioblitzes at the Outdoor Recreation Center, and the Atlanta Urban Ecologists program. Most recently, we have partnered on a scholarship based Critter Camp for area youth.

Atlanta Audubon Society

AAS is our neighbor at the Blue Heron! We work with Atlanta Audubon on a 5-Star Grant to restore and monitor the Confluence of the north and south forks of Peachtree Creek in Atlanta. We are also partnering with AAS on the Atlanta Urban Ecologists program. We are working together with AAS and Blue Heron to establish a center for urban ecology.

Orianne Society

We have worked with the Orianne Society sampling for Flatwoods Salamanders (Ambystoma cingulatum) in southwestern GA. We are also illustrating their upcoming book, the Biology and Conservation of the Eastern Indigo Snake.

Central Florida Zoo

We partner with the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Captive Breeding, Experimental Release and Monitoring of the imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus).

Lowry Park Zoo

We partner with the Lowry Park Zo in the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Captive Breeding, Experimental Release and Monitoring of the imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus).

San Antonio Zoo

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team member | We work closely with the Department of Conservation and Research at the San Antonio Zoo. We are mirroring each others' captive breeding programs as The Amphibian Foundation is working with Ambystoma cingulatum - The Frosted Flatwoods Salamander, and San Antonio is working with the Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander, Ambystoma bishopi.

Jacksonville Zoo

We partner with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Captive Breeding, Experimental Release and Monitoring of the imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus).

Detroit Zoo

We partner with the Detroit Zoo in the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Captive Breeding, Experimental Release and Monitoring of the imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus).

Coastal Plains Institute

We partner with the Coastal Plains Institute in the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Captive Breeding, Experimental Release and Monitoring of the imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus).

Remote Footprints

We partner with Remote Footprints in the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Captive Breeding, Experimental Release and Monitoring of the imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus).

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Fernbank particpates in the Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program and surveys Fernbank Forest for amphibians. The Amphibian Foundation also loaned Fernbank Museum Golden Poison Frogs (Phyllobates terribilis) from our conservation collection for their amazing Poison Exhibit in 2015. We participate annually in the 'Reptile Days' wildlife event at the museum.

Atlanta History Center

The Atlanta History Center is a site for the Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program and we have worked to train the staff there to properly identify amphibians. We have consulted with them on the design and construction of an articifial ephemeral wetland to attract imperiled Atlanta amphibian species. We are also working on a translocation program for Copperhead Snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) with AHC turning their property into a no-kill, snake tolerant agency.

AdoptAStream

We work with Atlanta Adopt a Stream on our Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program, and training 'citizen scientists' to monitor urban wetlands. We also love giving amphibian and turtle identification workshops at their annual Confluence conference for their hundreds of volunteers, which we have done for many years.

Chattahoochee Nature Center

We have worked with CNC on educational and wildlife projects focused on amphibians. Most recently, we are working together to develop the Atlanta Urban Ecologists program. Our outreach and conservation collection even has some amphibians rehabilitated by their strong wildlife rehabilitation program.

Trees Atlanta

We are partnering with Trees Atlanta on the 5-Star Grant for the restoration of the Confluence as well as most recently, with the Atlanta Urban Ecologists program.

Atlanta Science Festival

We love participating and celebrating science at the Atlanta Science Festival. We do scientific illustration programs, citizen science programs, and conservation programs at the festival each year.

Atlanta Urban Ecologists

The Amphibian Foundation partners with Atlanta Audubon, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Arabia Mountain, Zoo Atlanta and Trees Atlanta to provide the Atlanta Urban Ecologists program for students grades 7 - 12. We get students outdoors with local experts in the field.

SalamanderFungus.org

We serve on Communications and Outreach Team of the National Task Force for Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. The task force is an ad hoc group of professionals dedicated to mitigating the impact of a devastating salamander disease.

The Friends School of Atlanta

We work closely with the Friends School of Atlanta and have provided reptile and amphibian educational programs in 1st and 2nd grades, as well as given annual 'status updates' on amphibian conservation to the entire student body. FSA also hosts Critter Camp each summer. Lastly, we have donated Poison Frogs and an axolotl to the school for research and observation.

Disappearing Frogs Project

We are excited to work with the DFP — both organizations use art to convey the importance of amphibians and amphibian conservation to the public. We are are now both part of the Amphibian Survival Alliance.

Kavarna

Kavarna Coffee is a long time partner in our mission, and has welcomed us to host many educational, outreach and exhibitions there. Kavarna in Oakhurst (Decatur) is a wonderful venue to hold free, easily accesible events for amphibian conservation and is where the 'Ribbit Exhibit' was first held in early 2016.

Project Lemur Frog

We have worked with Andrew Gray and Adam Bland from the Manchester Museum's Vivarium's 'Project Lemur Frog' for a many years — exchanging amphibian conservation and husbandry techniques, staff — even frogs!

Rattlesnake Conservancy

At the Foundation, we are vocal advocates of snake conservation, and form partnerships with conservation agencies such as the Rttlesnake Conservancy. We provide a site for their Venomous Training, Handling and Certtification Program in Atlanta, and use their protocols for handling venomous snakes in the field and in captivity.

Remembrance Day for Lost Species

We have partnered with the ONCA movement 'Rememberance Day for Lost Species' (lostspeciesday.org) to help to get the message out for the extinction crisis out on a global level. Lost Species Day is November 30th.

Tall Timbers

Tall Timbers is one of our partners on the Striped Newt Repatriation Project. Part of our captive breeding colony came from the Dixie Plantation which is managed by Tall Timbers. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to continued conservation efforts with TT in northern Florida

Save the Salamanders

We are partnering with Matt Ellerbeck and Save the Salamanders to carry the conservation message and help people to understand the importance of salamanders and maintaining healthy salamander biodiversity.

Tangled Bank Conservation

We partner with Tangled Bank Conservation on their genetics work for flatwoods salamanders, a critically imperiled salamander species endemic to the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem.

Georgia Crickets

Though we have been getting our crickets from Georgia Crickets for 10 years, we recently formed a partnership to support the Georgia native captive propagation programs here at the Foundation. GC sponsors the native animals in our outdoor lab, the Amphibian Research and Conservation Center, providing them with supplemental food to insure they stay healthy.

The Turtle Conservancy

We partner with the Turtle Conservancy on turtle outreach and educational programs featuring critically endangered species produced in captivity at TC facilities. Species include Geochelone platynota and Chelodina mccordi.

Environmental Voter Project

There are 15 million registered voters in the US that care about environmental issues, but don’t turn out to vote. We can change that, and it starts now.

Science for Georgia

We partner with Science for Georgia and share a committment to making science and scientists more accessible to Georgia communities.

Elgon Wildlife Conservation Organization

EWCO is a partner organization in Uganda focusing on ex situ and citizen science conservation initiatives for amphibians. We provide guidance for these types of programs as well as training for staff through programs such as our Master Herpetologist Program

Afro Herper - Earyn McGee

Afro Herper has helped us raise support for the Amphibian Foundation's JEDI Fund, which provides direct scholarships for underserved youth in programs of biology, ecology, and conservation.

Center for Biological Diversity

We are delighted to partner with the CBD on elevating awareness of our highest priority conservation initiative — the Recovery of the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander. With CBD's help, and J Spahr's talent, we are creating an exciting infographic and lesson plan for schools in the historic range of this species (SC, GA, FL) to learn about the species and what we can do to help them (http://flatwoods.salamander.life)

Project Polliwog

Project Polliwog specializes in frog themed jewelry and we partner with them to help bring awareness to endangered frogs like the Georgia Gopher Frog!

A m p h i b i a n F o u n d a t i o n

The Amphibian Foundation

Mark Mandica

Crystal Mandica

Erin Thibodeau

Ashley Byrd

Maura Dudley

Sasha Greenspan

Sam Mae

Roxana Pena

Crystal Mandica

Jess Kemper

Michaela Daniel

Jeffrey Weiss

Anthony Mandica

Raquel Gonzalez

Becca Rodriguez

Mireille Lofquist

Barb Marston

Vanessa Viviano-Perez

Cassie Ashby

Brittany Szafran

Amanda Ramsay

Nadine Contreras

Thomas Geaslen

Elizabeth Gritzmacher

Nicholas Holmes

Cheri Robinson

Abbie German

Karl Guyton II

Taylor Cone

Alexa Ponder

Isabella Challis

Chelsea DesJardins

Helana Broome

Phoebe Offenberg

Shiloh Bauer

Evan Holland

Abby Tharp

Bella Kezios

Brian Richards

Erin Shebish

Meg Hussey

Amanda Ramsay

Hikari Miya

Jess Thompson

Emily Capps

Amanda Dahlgren

Taylor Cone

Thomas Geaslen

Jessica Shartouny

Roxana Pena

Chelsea Desjardins

Erin Shebish

Maryann Barbon

Tess Yaney

Ana Sparks

Boris Berlijn

Tina Bullock

Maryann Barbon

Michael Goldman

Marjan Ghadrdan

Sami Netherton

Vahab Rajaei

Amanda Dahlgren

Marjan Ghadrdan

Sami Netherton

Jordan Ellison

Mike Montgomery

Dorothy Winhold

Joel Sartore

Laura Turner Seydel (Advisor)

Michael Goldman

Chris Jenkins

Nancy Jones

Tobias Landberg

Duncan Irschick

Susan Walls

John Jensen

Jen Stabile