Lauren Hvorecny – Programs Manager

Her license plate says “Criikey”. Her dog’s name is Scooby. And growing up in Pennsylvania forced her to put sand in her shoes when she left the Delaware shores to be sure her feet were always in the sand. Growing up, her rapturous words of “Look what I found!” often resulted in everyone, but her ever-encouraging parents, to cringe as she reached in her pocket and pulled out something slimy and wet. Because of her desire to learn about the ocean and her lack of fear of the creepy crawlies, she felt at home when she participated in the MSC Precollege 3-day program as an 8th grader. She vowed after those days of being covered in mud that she would return to work at the MSC as an instructor. Three short days after graduating from Millersville University, she began working at the MSC. It has been twelve years since that first taste of the MSC. She has been the Programs Manager for three years running. Still covered in mud much of the time, and still putting slimy and wet things in her pocket, Lauren is thrilled to be living her dream at MSC.

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." ~ Mae West

Matthew Hess - Elderhostel Coordinator

“Weeds?!” he said to Lauren, surprised. “They’re plants like any other plant.”  The mountains of Virginia and Tennessee instilled in this manly man a love of ecology and respect for nature, particularly oriented around plants. Then college came. A brief introduction to barrier island ecology at The University of The South redefined his meaning of “cove.” He pointed his wagons eastward to study maritime ecosystems. Although many died of dysentery and he lost seven oxen fording The Bay, he enjoys the active life of outdoor education. In-office weeks, like the one he was in when he wrote this, drive him crazy. Off duty, he can be found on the beach, in the water or in his asbestos man-cave drinking leaded water and watching the Sci-Fi channel. Guitar in hand, he strums through life with an upbeat tempo and optimistic lyrics, making sure each new verse is better than the last.

Qualified positions: Hero, Emperor, Plant, Senator, Bear, Impressionist painter.

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” 

~ John Muir

Jaime Belanger - Equipment Manager/College Coordinator

When Jaime came to the MSC as a precollege instructor, she immediately fell in love with teaching.  Since that first season on the eastern shore, Jaime has worked at environmental science organizations in Florida and New Hampshire .  The field of outdoor education has allowed her to combine her two greatest passions – biology and conservation.  Although working as the equipment manager at the MSC does not provide teaching opportunities, the job has some perks of its own (i.e. working as the mate on the consortium’s research vessel!).  One certainty for Jaime is that she will never stray too far from the ocean or the world of teaching. 

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ~e.e. cummings

From Erie, PA, Janelle grew up with her feet firmly planted in the
sand of the beaches at the Presque Isle peninsula from day One.  Although she never laid eyes on an ocean coast until she was 17 years old, that didn't stop her from knowing early on that she was going to be a Marine Biologist and dream of saving manatees.  Janelle began her adventure while she was obtaining her degree from Lock Haven University of PA when she would spend her summers at MSC, taking college courses. In the spring of 2007, with her degree in hand, she packed up her car and pulled up to the Consortium the very next day. Quickly, she would go from Resident Coordinator to Pre-College Instructor and now Senior Instructor.  Now, with her feet still planted firmly in the sand she gets to see the ocean everyday even though she might not be saving manatees… yet.

Diane Lynch - Administrative Assistant
admina@msconsortium.org

Treasurer
treasurer@msconsortium.org