It is an exciting time of change at REEF as we recently welcomed two new staff members to our amazing team: Madalyn Mussey as Education and Outreach Program Manager, and David Ehlert as Campus Coordinator. Madalyn and David are no strangers to the organization, having both previously served as Marine Conservation Interns and Lead Interns. They each excelled during their time as interns and we are thrilled to have them join our staff. Madalyn and David are based at REEF Headquarters in Key Largo.
Madalyn Mussey is REEF’s Education and Outreach Program Manager. More commonly known as "Moose" around the office, she is originally from Wisconsin but attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. She graduated in December 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and an emphasis area in Natural Resource Management. She first came to REEF in the spring of 2019 as a Marine Conservation Intern and following the end of her internship she quickly transitioned into the Lead Intern for the Invasive Species Program. Having spent a substantial amount of time as a conservation educator before coming to Key Largo, Madalyn was thrilled to join the REEF staff in November 2019. She has had many opportunities to share her interest in conservation through education at SeaWorld Orlando, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and the University of Missouri Adventure Club. Managing REEF’s Education and Outreach Programs allows Madalyn to apply her dedication and experience in hands-on conservation education to give those around her an appreciation for the natural world and instill a long-lasting devotion towards marine conservation.
David Ehlert is REEF's Campus Coordinator. He attended the University of Kentucky and graduated in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Science with a focus in Wildlife Biology. David first came to REEF in the summer of 2018 as a Marine Conservation Intern. After graduating college, David returned for the summer of 2019 as the Lead Intern for the Education and Outreach Program. Before coming to REEF, he spent time working with Price Labs in Lexington, Okra Abby in New Orleans, and Camp Burnamwood in Irvine. David was ecstatic to return to REEF as a staff member in November 2019. REEF’s Campus Coordinator position allows David to share his experience and passion for marine conservation with REEF’s Marine Conservation Interns, designing a program that introduces interns to the vast field of marine conservation. He is excited to bring his experience mentoring others to the Marine Conservation Internship Program, and his outgoing personality to REEF.
We also bid fond farewells to two previous staff members, Ellie Place and Brittany Parker. Ellie joined the REEF team in 2017 as Conservation Coordinator of the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Ellie's work involved many different facets of REEF's programs, including Fishinars, Field Survey Trips, Conservation Partners and development of survey materials. Brittany served as Education Program Specialist and had been a part of the REEF team since 2018. During her time at REEF she oversaw the online store, supported administrative processes, conducted Ocean Explorers Summer Camp, and ran programs for college groups and other visitors to the REEF Campus. We are thankful for all of the effort, passion, and knowledge that Ellie and Brittany brought to REEF. We will miss them both greatly, and wish them both the best of luck with their next chapters!