Alverne W. Chesterfield (Chet) - Executive Director
chet@cbfieldstation.org      |     757-824-5636 x108            

Mr. Alverne W. Chesterfield (Chet) is the Executive Director here at Chincoteague Bay Field Station.  Chet hails from St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands where he graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School.  He attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) where he received a BS degree in Business Administration. Chet received a MS from Wilmington University in Public Administration.  He also has completed course work towards his PhD in Organizational Management at UMES.

Upon completing his undergraduate, he immediately begun working at UMES as a Residence Counselor with the Office of Residence Life and later served as its Assistant Director.  After working with Residence Life for 17 years, Chet moved over to the Division of Administrative Affairs to head up a new department – Auxiliary Enterprises.  A year later he was promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Director of Auxiliary Enterprises. A very unique and creative individual, Chet turned Auxiliary into one of its most revenue generating areas. In 2013 Chet retired from UMES after working for 36 years.

Since his retirement, Chet has spent time at Elizabeth City State University serving as a Consultant for its Auxiliary Services. He also enjoys working with the kids from his church where he cooks during its Thursday’s YES Program. Chet loves taking pictures and taking trips. In his work environment, he strongly believe to succeed it must be about “US” and not “I”.  TEAMWORK is important for the success of the organization.
Kent Chapple - Education Director
kent@cbfieldstation.org      |     757-824-5636 x107 

Kent was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and learned to love the naural world by exploring the Cascade Mountains and the Northwest Coast. He holds a B.S. in Biology from Southern Oregon University and an M.A. in Science Education from the University of California Santa Cruz. Before joining the Chincoteague Bay Field Station as Education Director, Kent spent over 10 years working in outdoor science education programs on both coasts as a field researcher, educator, curriculum writer, and program director.  He is passionate about science as a vehicle for connecting learners of all ages to the natural spaces where they work, live, and play.  On the weekends you might find Kent exploring the coastline looking for overlooked invertebrates, riding his bike around the Eastern Shore, or earning National Park Junior Ranger badges (58 and counting!).      
Mike Hillman - Adult & Family Education Coordinator
mike@cbfieldstation.org     |     757-824-5636 x106

Growing up in Michigan, where you are never more than 6 miles from a lake, Mike is very at home by the water. He spends most of his time outdoors either hiking, birding, kayaking, backpacking, camping, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Mike has a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Michigan State University with coursework across the fields of biology, ecology, and environmental science. It was during this time in college that he found his two favorite passions; wildlife watching and educating others about the natural world. From then on, he has focused his career on sharing his enthusiasm for science and nature with his audiences. He has worked for multiple zoological institutions including Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, and most recently the Fort Worth Zoo. Mike has traveled to numerous state and national parks, the rainforests of Costa Rica, and the coral reefs of the Bahamas. While his favorite species to find are birds, any “new-to-him” creature is sure to ignite his excitement.

Emily Foy - School Programs & Summer Camp Coordinator
emily@cbfieldstation.org     |     757-824-5636 x110

Emily grew up in a suburb close to Atlanta, Georgia and spent most of her childhood outside fishing, hiking, and playing in the dirt. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Clemson University. Throughout college she worked at a summer camp in the mountains of North Carolina where she developed her passion of working with kids and teaching about the outdoors. She has worked at several environmental education programs throughout the country, including the Florida Keys and the lowcountry of South Carolina. Most recently she worked at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources where she was crew and educator aboard their vessels and helped coordinate the Seeds to Shoreline program. When she’s not at work, you can find Emily outside going for walks, exploring new places, kayaking, or somewhere near the water!  
Sarah Bartle - University & Research Coordinator
​sarah@cbfieldstation.org     |     757-824-5636 x105

Sarah received her B.S. in Geo-Environmental Studies and M.S. in Biology from Shippensburg University. During her student career she developed a passion for research and hands-on education. Her love for research was sparked by an oyster restoration project in the Chincoteague Bay, and was followed by several research projects encompassing subjects including herpetology, aquatic bio-speleology, and groundwater. Her thesis research focused on determining the home range, habitat use, and movement of female Eastern Box Turtles for conservation and management purposes using radio-telemetry and GIS analyses. Sarah’s teaching experience includes designing curriculum and instructing children through adults via college camps, university outreach, and public school collaboration on subjects including environmental stewardship, biology, earth science, equine care, and horseback riding.  Sarah worked in the equine field holding a managerial position during her student career, and designed interpretive trail signs for a storm water management and stream restoration project.  In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, observing wildlife, caving, horseback riding, assisting with research projects, kayaking, landscaping, painting, training dogs, taking her dogs swimming, and squirrel watching.  
Cortney Weatherby - Community Outreach & Marketing Coordinator
cortney@cbfieldstation.org     |     757-824-5636 x109

Cortney was born and raised in Murray, Nebraska and has a B.S. in Marine Biology from Northwest Missouri State University. She is passionate about connecting people to the outdoors and sharing her love for the ocean. Since graduating college Cortney has worked as a Marine Science Instructor in the Florida Keys leading boat trips and snorkel/scuba diving excursions and spent two years as a naturalist in the South Carolina lowcountry. She was also a guide at a semi-remote field station along the Kachemak Bay near Homer, Alaska for 5 months leading tide pooling and forest hikes. In her down time Cortney enjoys reading, birding, fishing, and going on adventures with her dog Scout. Cortney also serves as the SPARK Program coordinator here at the field station. 
Emily Collins - Adult & Family Assistant Coordinator
Kelsey Gustafson - University & Research Assistant Coordinator
Alex Ramey - Education Specialist
John Besecker - Operations Manager
Tony Smith - Maintenance Assistant
Kennie Godwin - Groundskeeper
Julie Lurowist- Office & Finance Manager
Diane Lynch - Registrar
Linda Wallop - Food Service Manager
Robin Townsend - Cafeteria Shift Leader
Matthew Fenton - Cafeteria Shift Leader
Eunice Handy - Cook
Felara Hickman - Cook
Tom Hart - Head Boat Captain
Jimmy Whealton - Boat Captain
Francine Payton - Head Housekeeper
Adell Payton - Housekeeper