At the heart of the Hobe Sound Nature Center is a dedicated team of educators, naturalists, and support staff who are passionate about connecting people with the natural world. From guiding sea turtle walks and leading hands-on programs to caring for resident wildlife and welcoming visitors, each team member plays a vital role in fulfilling our mission of environmental education and conservation. Meet the friendly faces behind the scenes who help make every visit to the Nature Center a meaningful and memorable experience.

Meet The Hobe Sound Nature Center Team

  • 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.

  • 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 Senior Wildlife Educator and Camp Coordinator at the Hobe Sound Nature Center, and she leads many of the nature center’s 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.

  • 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 from Arizona State Univeristy in 2019.

    Lindsey next pursued a master’s degree in Marine Mammal Science 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, Ecuador 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 - whether hiking, paddle boarding, shelling, or anything at the beach. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, making art and jewelry, and spending time with her dog. She speaks conversational Spanish and aims to utilize the language to expand programming at the Nature Center.

  • 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

  • Wildlife Educator

    Yasmeen Bruno is a passionate wildlife educator whose commitment to conservation and community engagement shapes her work at Hobe Sound Nature Center. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston and an M.A. in Teaching Biological Sciences from Miami University, blending scientific expertise with a love for education and nature.

    Yasmeen’s path in wildlife education began as a volunteer at the South Carolina Aquarium, where she gained experience in public programming and outreach. In Florida, she joined the Florida Oceanographic Society, leading volunteer training and educational programs focused on marine conservation. She later taught marine science and biology at a local high school, helping students connect with complex environmental topics. Eager to return to fieldwork, Yasmeen became Outreach Coordinator at Inwater Research Group, where she led sea turtle conservation efforts and developed immersive, place-based learning experiences for educators. Now at Hobe Sound Nature Center, Yasmeen brings a wealth of experience and diverse expertise to the Hobe Sound Nature Center, enhancing our programming and expanding our community outreach.

    Yasmeen believes that conservation begins with connection—to wildlife and to each other. She brings her enthusiasm for nature into every interaction and loves working with people, programs, and volunteers. In her free time, she enjoys beach combing for shells and shark teeth or relaxing at home with her pets: three cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and a Hermann’s tortoise. Her goal is to inspire lasting connections with nature through engaging, community-centered education.

  • Operations Coordinator

    Jennie was a naturalist from her earliest years. She grew up exploring the woods around her home in Connecticut and spent endless hours searching for salamanders, snakes, and pretty flowers. At age 13, she went on a whale watch off the coast of Cape Cod where she got the chance of a lifetime to observe an endangered Northern Atlantic Right Whale mother and her newborn calf. Even though it was a rainy cold afternoon, Jennie sat on deck for hours with the biologists soaking up the information they were excited to share. This moment furthered her love of nature and desire to help conserve it.

    After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Child Studies and then a Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from the University of Saint Joseph, Jennie spent over twenty years in the nonprofit world creating and leading impactful programs that helped thousands of people across multiple states. During her travels she spent all her spare time exploring the ecosystems of the places she visited including California, the Midwest, and Hawaii.

    After moving to Hobe Sound, Florida she explored the Nathaniel P. Reed National Wildlife Refuge beach nearly every day for months and decided it was time to do what she was passionate about her entire life - nature and conservation. Jennie volunteered with Loggerhead Marinelife Center as a hospital interpreter and conservationist on Juno Pier and took several Florida Master Naturalist classes through the University of Florida. Blending her background in education and non-profit management with her passion for conservation she is dedicated to advancing conservation through education. In her free time, she enjoys finding treasures on the shoreline, hiking in the inland preserves, and soaking up the natural beauty of her coastal community with her four beautiful children.

Meet the Hobe Sound Nature Center Interns

Our internship program at the Hobe Sound Nature Center offers aspiring environmental educators and conservationists hands-on experience in the field of nature education and wildlife care. Each intern brings fresh energy, unique perspectives, and a shared passion for protecting Florida’s native ecosystems. From assisting with summer camps and guided tours to helping care for our resident animals, these emerging professionals play an important role in supporting our mission. Meet the interns who are making a difference while learning and growing with us.

  • Summer Camp Intern

    Chase was born and raised in Stuart, Florida, and from an early age, he had a fascination with animals and nature in general. As a kid, Chase always felt a deep connection with animals and made a point to learn as much as he could about them, memorizing countless details about as many species as possible. He has had a wide variety of pets—from dogs and cats to rabbits and chickens—which helped nurture his care and curiosity toward other creatures.

    Throughout his high school career, he had planned to go to college for mechanical engineering, but after completing his first semester at Purdue University in Indiana, he realized his true calling was to work closely with animals. He switched his major to wildlife management and is currently entering his second year at Purdue with renewed passion.

    Chase joined the Hobe Sound Nature Center partly because of his fond memories of its summer camps, which he attended for several years as a child. He now wants to help give back to the place that gave him such an amazing experience and hopes to spark the same appreciation for the natural world in others that the Nature Center and its people instilled in him. He strongly believes that without an appreciation for animals, people are unlikely to care for them. In the words of one of his inspirations, Sir David Attenborough, “If children grow up not knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it, and if they don't understand it, they won't protect it, and if they don't protect it, who will?”

    As someone who values finding majesty in the mundane, Chase enjoys wildlife photography, writing, and other forms of creativity, as well as spending time either with his pets or out in nature, continuing to nurture and reinforce his care for the creatures around him.