Dr. Jill Griffin
Executive Director

Jill spent part of her childhood living on a boat in the Caribbean with her parents and three siblings, which resulted in a profound passion and sense of respect for the ocean. This led her to pursue a dual degree in Biology and Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego. Following graduation, she was accepted into a Ph.D. program at the University of Miami’s, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, studying Marine Biology. Shortly after completing her degree, she was offered a full-time faculty position at the University of Miami, allowing her to continue her passion for research and teaching.

While at UM, Jill developed a new, innovative graduate program, called the Master of Professional Science, and was nominated as an Outstanding Program Director two years in a row, as an Outstanding Faculty Member, named an honorary member of the Golden Key International  Honour Society (acknowledged as “an advocate for student success and for an outstanding job in the capacity as an educator”), the recipient of the Excellence in Programming Award and Miami Dade Public Schools Award for Excellence in Service, the Clinton Global U Initiative for “Extraordinary Commitment to Action”, and was acknowledged as an Engaged Faculty Fellow for her efforts to cohere education and community service.

Jill lives with her husband, two sons, 3 dogs, and 3 cats, which she endearingly refers to as her “zoo”.

As a retired athlete, she loves staying active, including surfing, skateboarding, freediving, and playing tennis.

Tracy Boothby
Senior Wildlife Educator

Tracy grew up in Rock Island, Illinois, but her dream to be the next Jacques Cousteau drew her to Florida, where she attended the Florida Institute of Technology. She graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Aquaculture from the Jensen Beach campus, which is now Indian Riverside Park.

Following graduation, Tracy worked at Florida Power and Light, first as a Lab Technician and then as a Ranger at the Barley Barber Swamp. Later, she moved to Port St. Lucie and worked at the Savanna State Reserve as an Environmental Specialist before accepting the position as an Environmental Educator at the Hobe Sound Nature Center in 1990.

Tracy serves as the Education and Camp Coordinator at the Hobe Sound Nature Center, and she leads many of our most popular education programs, including but not limited to the natural history and conservation of rain forests, snakes, alligators, black bears, and endangered species. She has been a member of L.E.E.F. since 1986 and served as Regional Director during her tenure.

Tracy’s husband, Dave, owns an aquaculture business, and they have two sons, Josh and Shawn, and four cats. She is incredibly knowledgeable about Florida’s wildlife and the remarkable history of the Nature Center. Tracy is loved by everyone she has crossed paths with and has worked tirelessly to share her passion for conservation with thousands of children and adults during her time in residence at the Nature Center. In her spare time, she loves to hunt for sea glass at the beach.

Lindsey Homa M.P.S.
Program & Volunteer Coordinator / Wildlife Educator

Lindsey was a feather in the wind, living in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Ecuador, but was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. She attended Arizona State University and, after completing 3 years studying as a pre-health major, decided to stop ignoring the inner voice calling her toward a career in marine science. She switched her major, met an inspiring professor/mentor, and graduated with her bachelor’s in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior in 2019.

Lindsey next pursued a master’s degree at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, holding a variety of leadership roles and heralding strategic campus community initiatives. Her research focused on the intersection between tourism, sustainability, and the environment on Isabela Island, Galápagos, where she spent 3 months surveying tourists and local Galapagueños (i.e., people of the Galápagos).

Lindsey has extensive experience in the non-profit sector promoting cultural awareness, sustainability, environmental and wildlife education, and conservation and rehabilitation of marine animals. Returning to Florida she began her next chapter working with her former professor and advisor, Dr. Griffin.

Lindsey is very outdoorsy and soaks up the sun whenever she can. She enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling, spending time at the beach and with her dog, painting, and making jewelry. She speaks conversational Spanish and aims to utilize the language to expand programming at the Nature Center.

Brendan Everson
Operations Coordinator

Brendan was born and raised in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. He attributes his love of the outdoors to his dad, Roger. Growing up, they spent many days together hunting and fishing. Brendan has always been a talker and a people person, which led him to pursue a career in communication. Thus, he attended Missouri State University and graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and a minor in Advertising and Promotion.

Immediately following graduation, Brendan completed an internship with Nixa Public Schools (NPS) and began his career there as a Communication Specialist. At NPS, he was responsible for internal and external communication, event planning, media relations, social media, website management and design, and much more. Brendan leveraged the platforms available to him effectively to keep parents, students, and the community informed and engaged. Brendan received a MarCom Gold Award for his design of the Nixa Public Schools homepage in 2017 and was integral to highlighting district initiatives and accomplishments that made it one of the top school districts in Missouri.

Following his time at Nixa, Brendan moved back to St. Louis to be closer to his parents during a time of need. His love of summer and the outdoors soon pulled him to Florida, where he currently lives with his cat, Sunnie. Brendan spends his time looking for shark teeth on the beach, working on art projects, staying physically active, and enjoying time with friends.

Marlie Rivera

Wildlife Educator & Care Specialist / Assistant Volunteer Coordinator

Marlie was born in Newport News, Virginia, where she lived her entire life until relocating to Florida! Her journey into marine science began at the age of 6, inspired by a memorable trip to Turtle Bay in Hawaii. From an early age, Marlie exhibited a passion for wildlife and nature, often engaging in family camping trips, beach outings, and visits to local parks.

She developed a profound love and understanding of wildlife in her adolescent years and following grade school, spent the next 3 years studying biology at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. In this time, she gained experience in a variety of environmental monitoring tactics, biodiversity surveys, and spent time researching the residence time of a common marine bacteria on microplastics.

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2023, Marlie attended the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences at the University of Miami. There, she specialized in marine mammal science, expanding her expertise while contributing to public marine conservation outreach initiatives. Her efforts included planning and implementing events designed to engage and educate the public about marine conservation.

Marlie graduated with a Master of Professional Science degree in Marine Mammal Science in 2024 and now dedicates her career to advancing public awareness and education in conservation, driven by her enduring passion for the ocean and the interconnectedness of nature! Marlie enjoys spending her free time outdoors, searching for seashells along the beach, playing with her dog, and engaging in various creative, hands-on projects