Staff and Board
Staff
State Headquarters
Joyce Leiz
Executive Director
Joyce is a non-profit administrator with 30 years of development, finance and programadministration experience. She joined Connecticut Audubon in July 2018 as director of development and was advanced to chief operating officer in 2022. She became executive director in January 2024. Before coming to Connecticut Audubon, Joyce was director of development at a New York City hospital where she successfully managed $100 million in grant funded awards, including the completion of grant-related projects and implementation of new grant-funded programs. Throughout her career, Joyce has focused her efforts for the protection of the environment and the improvement of healthcare. Joyce has a BA in Anthropology from the City University of New York at Queens College. She lives in Sherman.
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Milan Bull
Senior Director of Science and Conservation
Miley oversees all of the organization's conservation work, including our public advocacy program in Hartford. He is a member of the Long Island Sound Study's Citizens Advisory Committee, the Conservation Advisory Council to Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and many other local and statewide boards and committees. Miley was a founding director of the Connecticut Ornithological Association, and has published numerous articles and speaks statewide on topics relating to ornithology and the environment. He is a long-time expedition leader for Connecticut Audubon Society's EcoTravel program, and has led trips throughout the Americas, Australia, Antarctica, and Africa. Miley has a BS degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Connecticut and a MS degree in biology from the University of Bridgeport. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in Fairfiel
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Melissa Gallaher-Smith
Director of Development
Melissa Gallaher-Smith is a nonprofit development professional and Certified Fund Raising Executive with a decade of experience helping individuals in Fairfield County achieve their philanthropic goals. She joined Connecticut Audubon in 2024 as the Director of Development. She is thrilled to bring her lifelong interest in birds and environmental conservation to her role at Connecticut Audubon. Previously, Melissa has focused her energies on promoting equality, equity and empathy through her work in human services and higher education advancement. Melissa also volunteers in the community, helping Arts and STEM organizations grow their influence and increase their impact.
EmailTom Andersen
Director of Communications
Tom is responsible for planning and carrying out Connecticut Audubon Society’s communications, including website, email, traditional media, and social media. He joined Connecticut Audubon Society in 2011. Tom is the author of This Fine Piece of Water: An Environmental History of Long Island Sound (Yale University Press) and he spent almost two decades as a newspaper reporter in New York, covering the environment, politics and other issues. He was the director of communications and special projects, and acting executive director, for Westchester Land Trust, in Bedford Hills, N.Y., from 2000 through 2010, a period during which the organization tripled in size.
EmailStefan Martin
Conservation Manager
Stefan brings a depth of environmental and birding knowledge from a wide variety of experiences to our sanctuary management team. He began his conservation career with Audubon Connecticut (National Audubon) as a part time steward for Audubon Greenwich. He served as seasonal land steward at Stratford Point during a time of much improved habitat management at this spectacular sanctuary immediately prior to coming to Connecticut Audubon. He is a past board member of the Connecticut Ornithological Association and is President the Connecticut Butterfly Association. Stefan is well-known and respected in birding and butterfly communities. A certified Master Gardener, Stefan also has extensive knowledge of both native and invasive plant life. His current role involves habitat restoration and enhancement to sanctuary properties with a focus on increasing biodiversity. He also leads guided bird walks and is actively contributing to eBird. Stefan joined the Connecticut Audubon Society staff in 2018.
EmailEcoTravel
Andrew Griswold
EcoTravel Director
Andy has been the director of EcoTravel for Connecticut Audubon Society since 1996. He graduated as an honor student in biology from Hartwick College and worked at the college's biological research station in the Bahamas studying avian ecology. Andy is the original concept creator and scientific consultant for a cable television series on bird watching called All Bird TV that aired on Discovery's Animal Planet. He is the original concept creator of the award winning Connecticut River Eagle Festival (during its time the largest birding festival in the world). Andy has conducted bird surveys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and been participating as a CBC captain for nearly 30 years. He has been a consultant to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism concerning development of birding tourism in its more remote islands. Andy leads trips to Canada, Texas, South Florida, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, and many other destinations. Andy is a licensed USCG 100-Ton Master boat captain and lives in Essex, Connecticut, with Marilou, his wife, and Sam, their son. He is known for his attentiveness to traveler's needs, fine birding skills, and infectious sense of humor.
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Matt Bell
EcoTravel Sales and Marketing Manager
Matt is a graduate of The Ohio State University with BS degrees in Earth Sciences and Evolution/Ecology. He started birding in May 2013, and became more seriously involved after a trip to Costa Rica. Since then he helped revive The Ornithology Club at Ohio State and assisted as a volunteer guide for The Biggest Week in American Birding and the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival. Matt loves participating in citizen science, tour guiding, chasing rare birds in his free time, and meeting fellow birders from around the globe. Most of all, he enjoys sharing his passion for birds and conservation with others and never shies away at taking the time to help beginners start their explorations of the avian world. For EcoTravel, leads Day Trips and Overnight Tours.
EmailFairfield Region
Amy Barnouw
Director, Fairfield Region
Amy leads the organization’s Fairfield Region which includes the Fairfield Nature Center and the Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary. Her responsibilities including fundraising and helping to establish and carry out conservation, development, research, education and communication strategies. Amy brings a blend of expertise in marketing and business development in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She was born in Connecticut and started her career in the Pacific Northwest as regional director of LightHawk, creating innovative campaigns that addressed conservation efforts around deforestation and watershed health in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. She then served as the assistant director of The Wilderness Society’s Northwest Region based in Seattle before returning to the East Coast. In 2010, Amy co-founded the Planet Fuel Beverage Company and its social impact arm, the Planet Fuel Charitable Fund. Through the Charitable Fund, she developed a high school advisory council which oversaw the environmental grant-making process and launched an environmental film series at the Fairfield Theatre Company to showcase award-winning documentaries. She has served on the boards of various conservation organizations, including the Connecticut Audubon Society from 2018 until 2022, and currently is a President’s Council Member of the Norma Pfriem Breast Center.
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Tricia Kevalis
Assistant Director of the Fairfield Region
Tricia oversees the day-to-day management of education programs and the the summer camp at the Fairfield Nature Center. She holds a B.S. in Child Psychology and began her career as an environmental educator at Westmoor Park in West Hartford, where she served as a Naturalist and Summer Camp Director. Tricia went on to further her education in environmental education at IslandWood, A School in the Woods, on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Her background blends child development and environmental learning, shaping engaging, hands-on experiences that connect people of all ages to the natural world.
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Courtney Radosavljevic
Marketing and Events Coordinator
Coastal Center at Milford Point
Matt Joyce
Conservation Science and Coastal Center Manager
Having been fascinated with natural history from childhood, Matt studied zoology and attained a master’s degree in biological research, before embarking on a career in conservation. After a year and half spent studying coastal ecosystems in the south-eastern US, Matt moved to Connecticut, where he worked for several years with a range of wildlife including endangered shorebirds, black bears and fishers. Matt now works as the Conservation Science and Coastal Center Manager, supervising and developing projects that seek to enhance shorebird and osprey breeding success. Away from conservation projects, Matt can be found engaging local community partners, attending public speaking events, and supporting the coastal center staff in providing a memorable experience for all its visitors.
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Louise Crocco
Office Manager
Louise is a life-long Milford native. After taking courses in office practice, stenography, and bookkeeping, she went to work at the family tool & die business, which made precision aeronautical components. When the Coastal Center at Milford Point opened in 1995, she was one of the first to volunteer. After a short time, she became a member of the staff and has been there for over 30 years. As the Office Manager, Louise handles day-to-day coordination at the Coastal Center, between caring for the animals, recruiting new volunteers, managing the Nature Store, and booking programs and events.
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Ava Michelangelo
Teacher-Naturalist
Ava graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Environmental Science before working as a seasonal resource assistant at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). In this role she developed public programs, participated in environmental outreach for grades K-8 and led teacher workshops. She also participated in numerous community science efforts, some involving bird monitoring which led to Ava's love for birds to grow exponentially. Ava joined the Connecticut Audubon Society in the spring of 2023 and has since taken on responsibilities including leading environmental education programs, directing the coastal center summer camp, and co-creating the Ask the Naturalist video series. Ava enjoys building relationships with local teachers and childcare organizations. She is always looking for curious minds to chat about nature and spark a new passion in them or build upon her own.
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Maggie Watson
Teacher-Naturalist
Maggie began working at the Coastal Center in 2023, where she primarily leads educational programs for youth and adult groups. When not teaching or directing summer camp, Maggie can be found handling the website and newsletter communications for the Coastal Center, as well as co-creating the Ask the Naturalist video series. She also assists the Fairfield Nature Center as a raptor handler and educator. Maggie enjoys helping with animal care, testing craft ideas for programs, and searching for raptors hiding in the sanctuary. Maggie holds a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology from the University of Rhode Island, and has a background in nature education and bird rehabilitation. She is always ready to answer visitor’s questions and share fun facts about wildlife.
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Johann Heupel
Shorebird Biologist
Johann is a lifelong lover of nature from a young age, growing up along the coastline of Connecticut and observing the amazing diversity of bird life in the state. Having graduated from UCONN with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences, and a Bachelor of Arts in Maritime Studies, he focuses his work on communicating environmental issues to a wide audience with the context of history. Johann joined the Connecticut Audubon Society in the Spring of 2023 as a shorebird biologist, and has continued his work of protecting vulnerable nesting birds on our beaches over the past three years. Leveraging his love of outreach and knowledge of ecological science, Johann has sought to build connections with local stakeholders, as well as expand outreach to include nature walks, guided tours, and other forms of media.
EmailCenter at Pomfret & Trail Wood
Sarah Heminway
Director, Northeast Corner Programs
Sarah is responsible for the oversight and programming at our two facilities in northeastern Connecticut, the Lois Orswell Grassland Bird Conservation Center at Pomfret and Trail Wood: The Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary in Hampton. She has served in this position since 2003. From 1994 to 2001, she was our first resident naturalist in Pomfret, developing programming for the Bafflin Sanctuary prior to the Center at Pomfret's inception. Sarah earned her B.S. in Environmental Studies from Trinity College, spent several years conducting graduate research at the University of Connecticut and was an environmental consultant for 15 years, specializing in soil and water issues. A member of numerous environmental organizations, she currently serves on the board of directors for the Wyndham Land Trust.
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Andy Rzeznikiewicz
Land Manager, Pomfret and Trail Wood Preserves
Andy has been working for Connecticut Audubon Society since 1994. He manages the 700-acre Bafflin Sanctuary in Pomfret and the 168-acre Trail Wood Sanctuary in Hampton. He focuses a lot of effort on early succession, field management, trail work, and invasive plant management. He leads various bird walks, private bird surveys and birding tours, bird banding studies, saw-whet owl banding, and environmental education programs. He has a bachelors degree in environmental sciences with an emphasis on conservation law enforcement from Unity College in Maine. He is on the Board of Directors of the Wyndham Land Trust. He lives in Pomfret.
EmailRoger Tory Peterson Estuary Center
Heather Kordula
Education Program Director
Heather is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of education programs at the RTP Estuary Center. Heather has a B.S. in Environmental Science and an M.S. in Environmental Education. She worked as an intern for Rhode Island Audubon before moving to Connecticut to work for several years as an environmental program educator and field trip coordinator for Common Ground Environmental Education Center in New Haven. Heather spent the two years as a pre-k teacher at a Reggio Emilia inspired early learning center. Additionally, Heather worked for two summers as an education coordinator for the Yale Peabody Museum.
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Deer Pond Farm
Cathy Hagadorn
Director
Cathy joined the Connecticut Audubon Society in the fall of 2015. In her first year, she served as the director of the Coastal Center at Milford Point. In 2017 she was then chosen to direct and lead the start-up of Deer Pond Farm, a new 850-acre nature preserve and center. Cathy oversees all business and land management operations here. Her team is made up of dedicated and talented staff, volunteers, vendors and community partners. Prior to joining us, she worked at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. Cathy managed and worked on the aquarium’s research vessel and collaborated on scientific database development for the Long Island Sound Biodiversity Census Project. She was key in developing a new business model for working with regional schools throughout the year. Cathy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from St. Michael’s College in Vermont. Additionally, she is a Master Wildlife Conservationist volunteer for the CT DEEP Wildlife Division. Among other projects, her volunteer work has included many winter hours at the Shepaug Bald Eagle View in Southbury. Locally, Cathy serves on several non-profit boards and volunteers with environmental and recreational organizations.
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Lori Lichtenauer
Sanctuary Manager / Naturalist
Lori manages the 850 acres of land and 15 miles of trails at Deer Pond Farm in Sherman. She works on education programs, invasive species management, creation of early successional habitat, and collaborates with volunteers and community partners to complete citizen science projects. Lori is a Connecticut certified forester. Before working with Connecticut Audubon, she worked as a consulting forester at Connwood Foresters Inc., creating forest stewardship plans for water utility companies, private landowners, and land trusts. Lori’s undergraduate degree is from SUNY New Paltz in Environmental Geochemical Science. She worked as a seasonal research technician for several years assisting in projects involving habitat preferences of Cerulean Warblers and Golden-cheeked Warblers. She also assisted in researching behavioral characteristics of several species of fairy-wrens in eastern Australia. In 2018 she obtained her master’s in biology from the University of Northern Colorado. She published two papers related to her study involving the singing behavior of female Canyon Wrens. Lori lives in Danbury.
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Christy Bonaiuto
Office Manager
Christy joined the team of Deer Pond Farm in 2025. In her role, she supports administrative operations, coordinates program development and marketing efforts. She also assists with volunteer training, recruitment, and projects. She holds a degree in journalism with a specialization in public relations from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining Connecticut Audubon, Christy built a strong background in communications and community engagement. Christy is an accomplished nature photographer and local artist. She is actively involved in the arts community, serving on the boards of the Commission for the Arts, Sherman Artists, and Gallery 25 in New Milford. Christy lives in Sherman.
EmailBoard of Directors
Officers
Chair: Pamela Fraser, Ph.D., Easton
Vice Chair: Richard S. Perkin, Southport
Secretary: Gilles Carter, New Haven
Treasurer: Harshad Kuntey, Glastonbury
Chair Emerita: Kathleen M. Van Der Aue, Southport
George Amato, Milford
Patrick Charmel, Hamden
John Folsom, Pomfret
Samuel A. Gilliland, Greenwich
Tomas Koeck, Fairfield
Robert Lamothe, Hamden
Eleazar Lanzot, New Haven
Gail Martino, New Haven
Sarah Middeleer, Newtown
Douglas Moore, Fairfield
Jeanne Olivier, Kent
Von Potter, Hamden
Elizabeth Ramsey, New York and Fairfield
Kevin B. Ramsey, New York and Fairfield
Brian Stacey, Redding
Claudia Weicker, Old Lyme
