Read about our wonderful video speakers who contributed such great content to the 2021 Virtual Sanibel Shell Show.
Speakers are listed alphabetically by last name. See the Virtual Sanibel Shell Show VIDEO SCHEDULE HERE and detailed VIDEO DESCRIPTIONS HERE.
Puspa Adhikari, PhD, Assistant Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University Water School
Video: FGCU Water School Research Updates: Algal Bloom Research
Dr. Adhikari is an Assistant Professor of Marine and Environmental Chemistry of The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography from Louisiana State University in 2015 and joined FGCU in 2018. His current research projects focus on red tides, nutrients, microplastics, organic contaminates, and using various tracers to study historic red tide events as well as tracking the sources of nutrients and pollutants in southwest Florida coastal-marine environments.
Ron Bopp
Video: Fossils in the Driveway
Ron Bopp is a retired OB/GYN who, along with his wife since retiring to Florida in 2008, has become interested in seashells and especially fossil seashells. This video illustrates the beginning of this activity for him. He has successfully entered shell shows with fossil displays, often winning major show awards. He is Past-President of the Sarasota Shell Club and currently is the Editor/Publisher of “The Beauii,” the newsletter of that club. He and his wife, Mary Jo, are members of the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club as well as the Florida Paleontological Society.
Suzanne Dietsch, seashell valentines.com
Video: Sailor’s Valentine Shell Mosaic Art
Suzanne Marie Dietsch is a multi-time first place and best-in-show recipient in the Philadelphia, Sarasota and Sanibel shell shows. She is known for her creative, three-dimensional approach to this craft. Her goal is to honor the nautical folk-art history of Sailor’s Valentines while creating a more personal, contemporary spin to this treasured 1800’s art form. Suzanne’s love for nature’s artistry is reflected in her intricate mosaic expressions using seashells and sea life. She is self-taught and creates each valentine as a unique, one of a kind, signed and numbered piece. Her designs can be seen in select galleries, on the web, and listed in Pamela Boynton’s book Contemporary Sailor’s Valentines, Romance Revisited.
Rachel Fields @tampabayhoneyhole
Video: DIY Vintage Printer’s Tray into the Perfect Shell Display
Rachel is a New York native whose love of seashells and the beach drove me to relocate to Tampa, Florida in 2017. She enjoys both the scientific aspects of conchology and malacology as well as the artistic side of shells. Rachel has entered either the scientific or artistic divisions of the Sanibel Shell Show every year since 2012. Although busy working full time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rachel can be found on her favorite local beach Ft. Desoto picking up wentletraps, or at any other local Florida beach combing for treasure.
Jason Garrison & Desha, Southwest Florida Shelling
Video: Snorkeling Sanibel
Jason and Desha like to show people of all ages that shelling can not only be fun, but beautiful as well. There is never a bad day on the beach. Whether it’s finding a huge horse conch, or filming a slow moving Kings Crown, they enjoy it just the same.
MaryBeth Greenplate, Sanibel Sea Shells seashells.com
Video: Sanibel Beach Bungalow Shell Doll House and She Shed
MaryBeth Greenplate is a lifelong shell enthusiast who manages her family’s business on Sanibel Island. She’s a 33-year full-time Sanibel resident who enjoys shell collecting, skiing, glass fusing, refurbishing dollhouses, collecting mermaids, creating sailors valentines and making anything miniature with seashells.
Tobias B. Grun, PhD, Florida Museum of Natural History
Video: 3D Visualization of the Unique Coiled Shell of Spirula Squid
Tobias B. Grun started his career in 2009 at the University of Tübingen, Germany, where he analyzed predator-prey interaction in modern sea urchin communities in the Mediterranean Sea. Tobias uses a combination of modern biology and paleontology in his research and has added more invertebrate taxa to his portfolio including cephalopods
Greg Herbert, PhD, Associate Professor of Paleobiology, University of South Florida
Video: University of South Florida Research Updates: Conservation of Marine Mollusks
Greg has been a marine biologist and geoscientist at the University of South Florida since 2004 and received his Ph.D. in Geology and Population Biology from the University of California Davis. Greg’s early research focused on the taxonomy of evolution of the family Muricidae, but he’s since branched out to all Mollusca and has a strong interest in conservation of Florida’s marine and estuarine ecosystems.
Carly Hulse, Senior Aquarist, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
Video: Behind the Tanks at Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
After graduating from the University of Alabama with a BS in both Marine Science and Biology, Carly went on to complete her certification in aquarium science at the Oregon Coast Community College. From there, she worked as an aquarist at various facilities including the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, LA; SEA LIFE Aquarium in Charlotte, NC;, and the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, FL. She has cared for a wide range of animals, from mammals to sharks, with her favorite being cephalopods!
Riley Jump
Videos: DIY Beach Bling Hand Sanitizer, DIY Upcycled Jewelry and Shell Magnets
Riley is a high school student who loves beach vacations, soccer, track, and creating DIY projects. She is a member of National Honor Society, an editor for the school newspaper, and has plans to attend college and then law school. She helped the Sanibel Sea School collect and measure live sand dollars and applied her sewing skills to make cloth face masks for the local hospital early in the pandemic when masks were scarce.
Joyce Matthys, Member of Sanibel and Oregon shell clubs
Videos: Live Critters on Sanibel Beach; Live Mollusks in their Shells, Basic Shell Cleaning; Overview of a “Normal” Sanibel Shell Show; Cleaning Sand Dollars, Sea Urchins, and Sea Stars; A Shelling Challenge on the Beach
Joyce became interested in seashells while on a trip to Sanibel in 1990. She retired in 1993 and in the next 18 years drove 143,532 miles traveling back and forth from Oregon to Sanibel because of the shells. She’s been a volunteer at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum since it opened and an education volunteer at the museum for 24 years. Joyce is an active member of the Oregon Shell Club and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. She co-chairs the annual Sanibel Shell Show.
Rebecca Mensch, M.S. Aquarium Curator, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
Video: Behind the Tanks at Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
Rebecca completed her B.S. in Marine Biology from Florida Institute of Technology and has a Master of Applied Science with Honors from Auckland University of Technology. Her master’s thesis was on the taxonomy of the deep-sea squid genus Chiroteuthis. In her new role as Aquarium Curator, Rebecca is in charge of running the Museum’s new live mollusk exhibits.
Eric Millbrandt, PhD, Marine Laboratory Director, SCCF
Video: SCCF Water Quality Research: Monitoring the Health of Oyster Reefs in San Carlos Bay
Dr. Eric Milbrandt is the Director of the Marine Laboratory at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). He earned a B.S. from Humboldt State University in Biology and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in Biology. Along with a team of scientists, he established the River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) composed of real time water quality and weather sensors distributed from Beautiful Island to the Gulf of Mexico. Since 2009, he has designed and monitored several large-scale mangrove and oyster restoration projects in Clam Bayou and San Carlos Bay.
Mike Parsons, PhD, Professor of Marine Science, Florida Gulf Coast University
Video: FGCU Water School Research Updates: Rink 2 Reef
Mike Parsons was a State of Louisiana Board of Regents Fellow and received his PhD from Louisiana State University in 1996 in biological oceanography.
He is a collaborator in three Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Consortia studying the impacts of the Macondo oil spill on coastal ecosystems. As director of the Coastal Watershed Institute and the Vester field station, Parsons continually pursues new avenues for student involvement and community outreach in both research and educational activities.
Roger Portell, Director of Invertebrate Paleontology and Micropaleontology Collections, Florida Museum of Natural History
Video: Virtual Fossil Field Trip with University of Florida
Video: Behind the Scenes of University of Florida Invertebrate Fossil Collection Area
Roger W. Portell is the Director of Invertebrate Paleontology and Micropaleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, where he is responsible for nearly 7 million specimens and an active research program. His research interests involve the systematics and paleoecology of mollusks, arthropods, and echinoderms mainly from the southeastern United States and Caribbean.
Leah Reidenbach, Research Associate, SCCF
Video: SCCF Water Quality Research: Hard Clam Restoration in San Carlos Bay
Leah is a native Floridian whose love of the natural beauty of Florida’s coastal ecosystems inspired her to become a marine scientist. She has undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Central Florida, interned with the SCCF marine laboratory in 2013, and pursued her master’s degree at California State University, Northridge. Leah is interested in studying how climate change and nutrient enrichment affect the physiology and ecology of marine primary producers including macroalgae, microalgae, seagrass, and harmful algal species. As a research associate at the SCCF marine lab, she analyzes seawater samples for nutrients and supports research on harmful algal blooms, seagrass, and water quality.
Jaimie Rogers, PhD Student, University of South Florida
Video: University of South Florida Research Updates: Comparative Growth Rates Between Fossil and Modern Oyster Shells
Jaime Rogers is a first year PhD student in the applied anthropology program at the University of South Florida. His dissertation work integrates historical ecology and archaeology to investigate the human-environmental relationship in Tampa Bay, Florida from 500 BCE to present. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from UCF in interdisciplinary studies with concentrations in environmental studies, anthropology, and GIS. He is the current vice president of the Central Gulf Coast Archaeological Society and is a professional archaeologist.
Sanibel Shells FB Group
Video: Painted Sanibel Shells
The idea for this group is to share happiness and love for shells and Sanibel through the simple gesture of painting shells and then hiding them on Sanibel and Captiva for others to find. We hope to inspire a sense of community among lovers of these special islands and to inspire creativity in all ages.
Sanibel Shell Crafters
Video: DIY Shell Flower Shadow Box
What originally began as Driftwood in the 1950s, this master artisan crafting group changed its name to the Sanibel Shell Crafters in 1990. The Shell Crafters have been a part of the Sanibel Shell Festival since its inception, meeting once a week to make items to sell at the annual Shell Fair. The talented hands in the Shell Crafters’ video belong to Sherry Purdy (pictured).
Andrea Schopf
Video: Seashell Artistry
Andrea Renee Schopf splits her time living on a farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and on the waterfront in Port Deposit, Maryland. She holds a degree in Fine Art from Bloomsburg University with a concentration in printmaking. She has combined her love for seashells and design to create one-of-a-kind works of Art. She is an international award-winning shell artist who has travelled to over 50 countries beachcombing and self-collecting many of the species used in her pieces. Over the years her art and designs have been featured in several publications and magazines. She hopes her seashell art inspires others to think creatively and to appreciate nature’s beauty and design found in our oceans.
Nicole Seiden, M.S. Student, University of South Florida
Video: University of South Florida Research Updates: Estimating the Life Span of Florida’s Horse Conch
Nicole Seiden is a senior master’s student at the University of South Florida. She is a conservation marine scientist whose research projects are centered around biological oceanography and museum curation. For her thesis, Nicole is mapping the distribution of gastropod biodiversity of Florida’s West Shelf to provide present-day baseline data to policy makers, fishery managers, future students, and researchers. Nicole has been actively involved in projects funded (fully or partially) by Florida Institute of Oceanography, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Conchologists of America, Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, and Marco-Island Shell club.
John Slapcinsky, Malacology Collections Manager, Florida Museum of Natural History
Video: Behind the Scenes of University of Florida Invertebrate Zoology Collection Area
John Slapcinsky is the Collection Manager for Invertebrate Zoology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, where he is responsible for organizing and maintaining modern malacological specimens. His research interests involve terrestrial snails in under-sampled geographic areas, particularly island systems.
Shannon Stainken, M.S., Education Programs Manager, Sanibel Sea School
Video: Sand Dollars on Sanibel
Shannon earned a degree in marine biology from the University of Miami, and a Master of Professional Science in marine conservation at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Shannon found her true calling in marine science education and outreach while working in the education department at Miami Seaquarium, and believes that education is the key to a better future for our seas. She is now Sanibel Sea School’s Education Programs Manager and is excited to continue pursuing her passion for marine science education.
Diane Thomas and Olivia Scott
Video: Beach Etiquette Through the Eyes of a Mollusk
A couple of beach girls who love the ocean and the creatures that live there. Whale watching, snorkeling with sea turtles, collecting shells and learning together, wherever we go!
Carmi Thompson, M.S. Student, University of Florida
Videos: Virtual Fossil Field Trip with University of Florida, Behind the Scenes of University of Florida Fossil Collection Area
Carmi Milagros Thompson is a graduate student at the University of Florida with an appointment at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Carmi’s research interests involve the paleoecology of mollusks from the southeastern United States, with a focus in Florida and the Caribbean.
Greg Tolley, PhD, Executive Director, Florida Gulf Coast University Water School
Video: FGCU Water School Research Updates: Getting the Water Right
Greg Tolley is Professor of Marine Science and Executive Director of The Water School at FGCU. He earned his PhD in Marine Science at USF and joined FGCU in 1997. He is a Certified Fisheries Professional with the American Fisheries Society and is past Director of the Florida District of the American Institute of Fisheries Research Biologists. He currently serves on the boards of directors of the Florida Foundation for Responsible Angling and Friends of Rookery Bay, and is a past board member of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, and Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium.
Morgan Tomlin, B.S. Student, University of South Florida
Video: University of South Florida Research Updates: Estimating the Life Span of Florida’s Horse Conch
Morgan Tomlin is an undergraduate student at the University of South Florida studying studying Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Chemistry. She has been working on molluscan research at USF since the fall of 2019 and plans to attend graduate school after graduation.
