SpeakerBios

** Christine Archer ** Christine Engels currently works at the University of Florida coordinating evaluation activities for the Climate Change and Variability project, a multi-state institution effort that aims to increase climate literacy among agricultural producers. In the past she worked as an evaluation and environmental education specialist at the American Museum of Natural History and the World Wildlife Fund, where she developed and evaluated educational modules, materials and programs on biodiversity conservation for teachers. She also collaborated on education and research programs at the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens and the National Zoo in Washington, DC, where she helped create educational activities and programs on primate conservation. Christine holds a BS in Biology from American University and a MA in Tropical Conservation and Development from the University of Florida.

** Emilio Bruna ** Bruna has a joint appointment with the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department and theTropical Conservation and Development Program. He joined the Center in 2002 after completing an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (Brazil). Bruna’s research focuses on the consequences of deforestation and other human activities on tropical ecosystems. Much of this work has been conducted at Brazil’s Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, where Bruna also helped develop and implement an internship program for Brazilian undergraduates interested in Amazonian ecology. His research awards have included grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, The Ford Foundation, the SmithsonianInstitution, and SUNY International Development Group.

** Sandra Davis ** Sandra Davis acquired a BA Degree in Elementary Education from The University of Memphis inTennessee receiving an additional MA Degree in Special Education from the University of Florida. In 2003, she began a first full time Second Grade Gifted Magnet Academy Program at Williams Elementary with the School Board of Alachua County totaling 23 years in Gifted Education. The Rainforest Thematic Unit hasevolved over seven years of research with collaboration of UF resources, parents and curious children. Interdisciplinary academic studies of inquiry areused to encourage depth of knowledge through a simulated passport of ecosystems while students create projects, portfolios, and a clearer understanding of their role in a global community.

** Santiago Espinosa ** SantiagoEspinosa is a PhD candidate from the Department of Wildlife Ecology andConservation at the University of Florida. Santiago’s research interests include wildlife management by traditional groups and the interactions between people and large carnivores. His dissertation entitled “Effects of road development and bushmeat extraction on jaguar conservation in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador” attempts to increase our understanding of some of the mainfactors threatening wildlife conservation across the tropics.

** Rosana Resende ** RosanaResende obtained her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology and Graduate Certificate inLatin American Studies at the University of Florida. Her dissertation,“Tropical Brazucas: Brazilians in South Florida and the Imaginary of National Identity” focused on the role that stereotypes play in moving from a national to an ethnic consciousness among immigrants. She positions herself as a broad Latin Americanist and migration scholar, with an emphasis on race, ethnicity,and gender, and has taught “Peoples of Brazil” and “Gender in Latin America.”

** Mary Risner ** Mary iscurrently Associate Director at the UF Center for Latin American Studies whereshe works with K-12 educators to integrate Latin American content across thecurriculum. Her undergraduate degree is in Marketing and she holds M.A. degreesin Spanish and in Latin American Studies. She is currently completing an Ed.D.in Educational Technology. Her research interests are Language for SpecificPurposes, the role of culture and language in international business, andonline learning. She has taught at the K-12, community college and universitylevels, as well as in corporate settings.

** Patricia Sampaio **  Patricia previously served as Assistant Director of theBiological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project in Manaus, Brazil and mostrecently has worked as a Biological Scientist at the UF School of ForestResources and Conservation. Her background includes field research in tropicalforest ecology and conservation, as well as undergraduate and graduateeducation related to tropical conservation and development. She holds an MS inEcology from Universidade de Sao Paulo and a BA in Biology from theUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. She is a native speaker of Brazilian Portuguese.