Rogers Center Staff

Meet the Rogers Center Staff

Marsha Guzewich

Marsha Guzewich, Director

Marsha Guzewich came to Rogers Center in fall of 1984 as the program coordinator. After three years she became the director and has been in that position ever since. As director, Marsha oversees the operating and programing at Rogers. She works closely with Operations staff, Albany staff , Friends of Rogers and of course with the Center's staff. Marsha enjoys working with the public and presents some Center's programs. In her spare time, Marsha can be found walking, biking, paddling, snowshoeing or cross country skiing or maybe baking up some healthy treat.

Fred von Mechow

Fred von Mechow, Program Coordinator

Fred has been enjoying life at Rogers Center since 1988 as the Program Coordinator. His duties include scheduling programs, assigning staff teaching responsibilities, overseeing the intern program, teaching classes and working on exhibits and other projects. Fred is an avid bird watcher, a member of the Chenango Bird Club, and has participated in the New Jersey Audubon World Series of Birding since 1993. When Fred can be found at home, he's usually working on remodeling or some other woodworking project.

Laura Carey

Laura Carey, State Project WILD Coordinator

Laura Carey started her career at Rogers Center in 1980 as a Seasonal Educator and has progressed through the ranks to Environmental Educator 2. Her main responsibility is providing workshops and resources to educators across the state. She is the state coordinator for Project WILD. In addition to Project WILD workshops, Laura also facilitates Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Leopold Education Project, Energy Educator workshops, Exploring Nature Through Children's books, Wildlife of New York, Below Zero, and week-long teacher institutes. She coordinates the Earth Fest, teaches public programs and works on exhibits and other projects. In her spare time Laura enjoys walking with her dog, looking at the local flora and fauna, woodworking, kayaking and Aikido.

Christina DeCesare

Chris DeCesare, Educator

Chris DeCesare began her environmental education career as a Rogers Center intern in 1992 and returned to the Center full time in 1998 as the environmental education assistant. Besides teaching classes to school groups and leading weekend public programs, Chris coordinates our annual Winter Living Celebration (WLC) each January and the Rogers Environmental Interpretation Institute (REII) program in January and May each year. She has special interests in insects and aquatic invertebrates. When away from Rogers, Chris may be found hiking, kayaking, gardening, watching movies or reading suspense novels.

Amy Smith

Amy Smith, Project WET

Amy Smith began at Rogers Center as a summer intern in 1999. In October of 2000, she started working for Cornell University as a water education specialist, based at Rogers Center. Amy is the Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Regional Coordinator and conducts Project WET teacher workshops throughout central and western NY. In addition to facilitating educational workshops, she is involved with water quality monitoring, watershed education, organizing water festivals, teaching classes to school groups and leading weekend public programs. Amy enjoys traveling and exploring new places, hiking, camping, live music and spending time with family and friends.

Darlene Miller

Darlene Miller, Office Manager

Darlene Miller has been with Rogers Environmental Education Center as office manager since 1989. Prior to her career with Rogers Center, she worked as secretary to the Director of International Education at SUNY Oneonta. Darlene assists Rogers Center staff in most aspects of environmental education at the Center as well as working directly with the public to answer questions related to local flora and fauna. Darlene spends much of her time helping people understand varied wildlife and their habits in an attempt to dispel fears and attitudes about perceived nuisance behaviors. Darlene takes a personal interest in plants in particular and during her daily walks on the trails often takes photos or holds a particular plant in her minds eye to identify in her favorite wildflower field guide upon return. She can also be found carrying on quite the varied conversation with Fred in "bird language" to discuss her latest feathered observation! In her spare time, Darlene enjoys walking, hiking, kayaking and canoeing, gardening, reading, camping, backpacking, and of course just spending some quiet time outside.