Staff
Staff Bios
Program Staff
Maggie Bailey, School Program Coordinator
Maggie believes that one must stand in a river in winter, smell rich, leafy dirt, and listen to the sounds of the woods to appreciate the life one lives. She worked for the Science Center in summer 2008, and then returned as a part-time teacher naturalist. Maggie grew up in the Ouachita Mountains, and now lives near the Buffalo River in Newton County. She obtained her B.S. in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science from the University of Arkansas with a Minor in Art in 2007, and has worked with Audubon Arkansas in watershed and coal energy education. In 2008, she became a certified Arkansas Master Naturalist at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. She is also certified in Project Learning Tree, Wet’n'Wild, Wonders of Wetlands, and Places We Live Instructional Learning. She likes fifth-grader forest stories, copperheads, and teaching energy efficiency to ONSC visitors. Maggie holds certifications in Advanced Wilderness First Aid, Swiftwater Rescue, and American Canoe Association Moving Water Canoe.
Elizabeth (Liz) Hill, Part-Time Teacher Naturalist
Liz joined the ONSC staff in August of 2005. She grew up in the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas and has always loved being outdoors and learning about nature. Her experience at the summer “Wet ‘n Wild” camp at ONSC in 1996 inspired her to help others become more connected to (and appreciative of) the natural world. She received her B.S in conservation and resource studies with a focus on environmental ethics and education at the University of California – Berkeley. After graduation, Elizabeth joined Americorp for two years and interned through Antioch College as a naturalist at the Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She and her husband Zac are building a timber-framed home in rural Washington County and she enjoys playing the banjo and loves art of all kinds. Zac and Liz are proud parents of new baby girl Julia. Liz holds certifications in Advanced Wilderness First Aid, Swiftwater Rescue, and American Canoe Association Moving Water Canoe.
Roslyn Imrie, Part-Time Teacher Naturalist
Roslyn grew up in rural Newton County, Arkansas and has returned to build her family’s home there. She holds a B.A. in Ecology and Creative Writing from Goddard College in Vermont and studied creative writing and environmental ethics at the College of the Redwoods in California. She previously taught early primary school at Fayetteville Montessori School, and has taught creative writing workshops and nature programming for children and adults in Arkansas and California. Roslyn joined the ONSC team as a Teacher Naturalist in March 2011. Roslyn is certified in Wilderness First Aid.
Steve Keltner, Full-Time Teacher Naturalist
Steve worked at Ozark EcoTours in Jasper for 8 years where he led hikes with the Adventures in Youth and adult hiking programs before joining ONSC in January 2002. He has a botany degree from the University of Kansas and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. Steve and wife Tara have built an an off-the-grid solar home surrounded by Ozark National Forest land near the Buffalo River. They have home-schooled their daughter Molly and were involved in founding the Headwaters School. Steve is also an organic produce grower and has sold his products through the Ozark Organic Growers Association. Steve holds certifications in Swiftwater Rescue, American Canoe Association Moving Water Canoe, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Dr. Joanie Patterson, Part-Time Teacher Naturalist
Joanie was raised in California and moved to the Ozarks 22 years ago. She earned a Bachelor of Science in botany and a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Arkansas. She has worked as a visiting professor at the University of Arkansas in Fort Smith and also as part of the recent Ivory Billed Woodpecker documentation effort. Her favorite teaching topics include ornithology and entomology. Joanie enjoys reading, gardening, and birding. Joanie holds certifications in Advanced Wilderness First Aid, Swiftwater Rescue, and American Canoe Association Moving Water Canoe.
Adam Schaffer, Part-Time Teacher Naturalist
Adam joined ONSC in August of 2007. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2003 with a B.S. degree in zoology and a M.A. in education. Adam is an Arkansas licensed teacher and has worked at Audubon ecology camps in summer. He has have been involved in science education in various forms but prefers the hands-on and outdoors variety. Adam and his wife Andrea live in Bentonville, and Adam loves biking of all types as a healthy and environmentally friendly form of recreation and transportation. He also enjoys hiking, caving, and traveling. Adam holds certifications in Swiftwater Rescue, American Canoe Association Moving Water Canoe, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Rob Seal, Program Manager
Rob was born in Salinas, California and grew up in Alma, Arkansas. He joined the ONSC field staff in 2007, after completing a Bachelor of Science in wildlife ecology from Oklahoma State University. He enjoys teaching herpetology and wilderness survival to ONSC students, and makes a point to connect “big-picture ecology to small-picture solutions” for environmental problems. Rob holds certifications in Cave Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, American Canoe Association Moving Water Canoe, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He enjoys kayaking, hiking, outdoor photography, caving, and learning as much as possible about the natural world.
Caleb Wardlaw, Part-Time Teacher Naturalist
Caleb joined ONSC in August 2004. He grew up in the Ozarks of Southwest Missouri and developed a great love of natural history. He earned a Bachelor of Science in aquatic resources from Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska. Since then he has worked in several nature education venues including an Alaskan conservation group, a backpacking summer camp and Roaring River State Park in Missouri. Caleb lives in southern Missouri where he farms with his wife and children. He holds certifications in Swiftwater Rescue, Cave Rescue, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder.
Administrative Staff
Deb Bluma, Financial Manager
Deb was raised on a farm in Kansas and joined ONSC administrative staff as Financial Manager in December 2008. She previously worked for over 20 years for a CPA firm in Rogers, Arkansas before moving to Madison County. She resides on a farm near Huntsville with her husband. In her spare time she enjoys reading, organic gardening, hiking, and her flock of laying hens. Deb can be reached at deb@onsc.us.
Sonja Rodden, Office Manager
Sonja was raised in northwest Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas, majoring in accounting. She lives in Huntsville, Arkansas with her husband and their 3 children who are active in a variety of sports. In her free time she enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, movies, and family and friends. Sonja is the primary point of contact with our partner schools and as registrar for our programs in addition to ensuring the daily functions of our office run smoothly. She is pictured here with her mother, Rita. Sonja may be reached at sonja@onsc.us.
Beth Stephens, Executive Director
Beth Stephens joined the Ozark Natural Science Center as executive director in November 2009. She grew up backpacking and hiking in the Pacific Northwest and throughout Arkansas and believes strongly that outside time and learning about the natural world are key ingredients for fantastic, ethical, curious kids. She lives with her husband, Fred and daughters Sophie and Ainsley in historic downtown Rogers, and they enjoy family adventures such as biking the Katy Trail. Beth completed her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She is active with the Rogers Noon Rotary club, is a founder and board member of NWA Emerging Leaders and serves as a Rogers Historic District Commissioner. In her spare time, she enjoys leading a Girl Scout troop, gardening and growing herbs, lots of experimental cooking as well as hiking, camping, canoeing and biking with her family. Beth can be reached at 479-633-7619 or beth@onsc.us.
Food Service & Maintenance
Audrey Zickwolf
Audrey joined ONSC in June 1998. She brings many years of organizational expertise to ONSC. As the supervisor of dining services, Audrey always ensures well-planned, delicious meals and works directly with many of the special groups who arrange for private rental of ONSC facilities. She lives in Rogers with her grandson.
Also in our kitchen keeping our students, campers and staff well-fed and happy are:
Wannell Self, Kingston, Arkansas – Cook
Rita Sharp, Huntsville, Arkansas – Prep Cook
Mike Barro, Maintenance
Mike keeps our facilities in working order and our grounds beautiful. He grew up in Rudy, Arkansas and spent 20 years as a heavy-equipment operator in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoys seeing ONSC campers students learning about nature and takes every opportunity to study and spend time in the Ozarks natural environment himself. In his free time he enjoys riding his motorcycle, hiking, hunting and fishing, playing music, and spending time with his children and girlfriend.
