Education is the keystone mission of Oatland Island Wildlife Center and we wouldn't be able to fulfill that purpose without our dedicated staff of teachers and naturalists that continue to bring the natural world to your fingertips.
Teachers
Timothy Cornish, Teacher
Originally from Yonkers, NY, Tim moved to the Savannah area 25 years ago and went to high school in Richmond Hill. He attended Armstrong Atlantic University and earned a B.S. in Biology and M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education. He loves working with animals because being around them really makes him appreciate our natural world. They are also so unpredictable, everyday he sees something new. He came to Oatland in 2003 as an intern, followed by teaching with our Summer Camp program. In 2019 he became a full time teacher at the center. His favorite subject to teach is predators and food webs.
Elise Zador, Teacher & OWL Program Lead
Elise has been leading the Oatland Wildlife Leaders for a number of years. She enjoys being able to inspire students to increase and share their knowledge of animal world.
Naturalists
Pam Hewatt, Naturalist & Summer Camp Program Coordinator
Pam grew up near Stone Mountain, Ga and acquired her graphic design degree from UGA. Being raised with horses and pets of all types, she is a farm girl at heart and her first love has always been animals. She moved to Savannah in 1991 and fell in love with Oatland Island almost immediately and began volunteering every day. She now works with the education staff as a teacher, is our summer camp program coordinator and in-house graphic designer. She feels extremely fortunate to come to work everyday to this beautiful place, sharing her passion for animals and the natural world and knows that she can make a difference.
Michelle Kelly, Naturalist,
Toddler Tuesday Program Lead
Michelle is originally from Vermont, but grew up in a military family and moved every 3 years until high school. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont and her graduate degree from the University of Arizona. She loves working with children and animals because she gets to be a professional learner. She loves all things about nature and her favorite pastime is paddling the creeks and playing music with friends.
Eric Swanson, Naturalist
A product of the Midwest, Eric is originally from Geneseo, Il and is a graduate of Knox College. He joined the staff at Oatland Island in September of 2016. Children approach the world with a sense of wonder and curiosity which is inspiring to him and drives his passion for teaching and learning. He appreciates animals for their ability to adapt and service in an environment that humans are constantly changing. His favorite animal depends on what his audience might be interested in, but he loves to talk about birds of prey and herps. In his free time he likes to go birding, working in the garden and being near the water.
