Vona is responsible for day to day operations, which involve coordinating and developing survey demonstrations, workshops and events. Vona has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology and Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University and a Master of Science degree in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics from the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  Vona has extensive experience conducting wildlife surveys and working with threatened and endangered birds and bats throughout the United States.  

vona@wildheartecology.com

Jenny helps run Wildheart events. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Bradley University and a Master of Science degree in Biology from Bradley University.  Her interests include pollination ecology, wetland function and conservation, bat ecology, and Missouri ecosystems.  Jenny is a PhD student at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she is studying the effects of urbanization on pollinators. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys hiking, biking, soccer, and exploring St. Louis. 

Jessica volunteers with Wildheart Ecology during bat survey demonstrations. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Her interests include insects, plants, bats, and everything under the sun. She has experience designing yards to attract  pollinators and other wildlife using landscape features and plants. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, paddle boarding with her dog, and identifying insects and plants. 

Juan volunteers with Wildheart Ecology during bat survey demonstrations. In 2016 Juan moved from Costa Rica to St. Louis to become a PhD student at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. He studies tropical nectar-feeding bats that pollinate several species of plants in mountain rain forests of Costa Rica and Ecuador. In addition, he's also interested in all things natural history, tropical biology, endangered species conservation, and environmental education.

Paul helps design and produce materials for bird and bat houses in his wood workshop. Paul has a Bachelor degree in Business from St Louis University.  He is also an avid outdoor climber and uses his climbing skills to ascent trees and other structures to safely install our bat houses!  

Kirk helps set up and lead bat survey demonstrations. He holds a PhD in climate change ecology from Western Sydney University at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment. Kirk received his Master's and Bachleor degrees in Biology from The University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he studied plant-herbivore interactions. His interests include hydrology, plant-insect interactions, plant identification, and statistical programming within R, Python, and GIS. Kirk's hobbies include making excellent coffee, exercising and hiking.