Meet Our Instructors
ROBIN ANDERSON
Robin Anderson’s journey includes being a NJSOC Graduate Teaching Fellow, K-6 Science Educator, Hackensack Meadowlands Environment Center Program Specialist, Middle School Teacher of Earth Science, Cross Country Coach and NJ Audubon Residential Summer Camp facilitator/educator. She has come full circle to once again enjoy teaching some of her favorite field experiences at NJSOC, along with offering public workshops on Rustic Bread Baking using a wood fired oven.
JENNIFER CORREA-KRUEGEL
Jennifer Correa-Kruegel has a Masters in Parks and Resource Management from Slippery Rock University and is a Master Herpetologist through the Amphibian Foundation. She worked at the NJSOC full-time from 2006 - 2020, starting as the Program Coordinator and evolving to an Environmental Educator. Jennifer currently works for the Warren County Department of Land Preservation and enjoys returning to the SOC to work with school groups as a volunteer Instructor whenever possible.
JIM FIOLA
Jim Fiola graduated from Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) with a BA in History. In the early 70’s, he and his wife caught the spirit of the “back to the land” movement, living in tent for 9 months while building their own cabin without electricity, and growing all their own food. A fire that destroyed the cabin ended their homesteading experiment, but led to a crossroads that changed Jim’s life. He became a professional woodworker and participated in juried and award-winning craft shows for 45 years. Jim has also shared his life experience with Sussex County Community College students in a course entitled, “How to Make a Living Being An Artist". Later he taught sustainability to third through fifth grade students at Merriam Avenue Elementary School, where he and his students planted a school garden, harvested the food, and sold it at a school market. Jim’s dedication to environmental issues and learning has naturally led him to the NJSOC, where he is excited to help connect young and older people alike to the past and the outdoor world.
JOHN GORALSKI
John Goralski is a USA Archery Level 3 National Training System Coach and Instructor, as well as a certified Instructor Trainer. In addition, John is a certified NASP (National Archery in the Schools) Instructor, a certified S3DA (Scholastic 3D Archery) instructor and is a certified bow technician. He has designed many training programs, has led multiple archery classes for both children and adults; and trained numerous Level 1 and Level 2 Instructors. John has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Education from William Paterson University. John has over 20 years of experience teaching Science, Social Studies, Art and Photography at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels. John is a past Pennsylvania Archery Association State Champion.
RUTH GORALSKI
Ruth Goralski is a USA Archery Level 3 National Training System Coach and Instructor, as well as a certified Instructor Trainer. She has designed many training programs, has led multiple archery classes for both children and adults; and trained numerous Level 1 and Level 2 Instructors. Ruth has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from East Stroudsburg University. Ruth is a Clinical Research Professional who has led multiple global teams in conducting Cardiovascular, Oncology and Anti-infective research studies bringing new medications and devices to market. Ruth is a past Pennsylvania Archery Association State Champion and Mid-Hudson Champion.
MARIAN JANES
Marian, a self-professed 'treehugger' first fell in love with SOC as an undergraduate intern in outdoor and environmental education. She further cultivated this calling as a graduate teaching fellow at Indiana University's Bradford Woods and as a naturalist at the Somerset County Environmental Education Center. Marian incorporates her love for learning into her current work as a professional life and leadership coach. As an outdoor enthusiast, educator, and 25+ year corporate learning leader, Marian provides a unique perspective on cultivating personal growth within a natural environment. Marian's passion is hiking, outdoor adventuring and a cozy campfire with s'mores.
DINA JONES
Dina holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Science and a passion for the environment. As an AmeriCorps member from 2019 to 2020, they helped foster a sense of respect and conservation for the natural world in visitors to the NJSOC. As a part-time educator, Dina hopes to continue supporting the awe-inspiring educational experience that the SOC never fails to provide.
ALIZA KAWECKI
Aliza Kawecki, has a long history with the School of Conservation. She first came to the school as a 5th grade student, returning a few years later for the summer music camp, and again as an intern, teaching 2008-2009. Aliza has a love for the outdoors that began in her childhood going on hikes in Stokes State Forest. She received her undergraduate degree from Prescott College in Environmental Education in 2005 and her Master's of Science in Environmental Education in 2016 from Southern Oregon University. Following college, she traveled the country teaching Environmental Education for several years. In 2014, Aliza returned to New Jersey and shifted her focus from EE to organic farming and gardening. Her greatest passion in life is working with plants and especially loves experimenting with native plants. In 2020 she had a daughter named Iris, who is already on her way to becoming a very observant naturalist like her mother.
PATRICE KEALY
Patrice Kealy has shared her knowledge and love of science, history and the arts with children and adults in many settings throughout New Jersey for over 50 years. She has shared the surprises of marine biology with school groups for the NJ Marine Sciences Consortium at Sandy Hook, NJ, served as the lead sailing instructor for the Monmouth County Park System, and as an environmental educator and artist with the Hackensack Meadowlands Environmental Education Center. She’s been an interpretive Park Ranger and supervisor of the Millbrook Village historic site for the Delaware Water Gap NRA, and has even crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel as a participant in the Soviet American Sail, a combined diplomatic and environmental expedition. While she explores the natural world, Patrice expresses her passion for the wonders of creation as an avid photographer, artist and writer. She is also a published illustrator and is currently writing a middle grade fiction book.
ALLYSON LANCE
Allyson grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania and attended Miami University (Ohio), where she earned a B.A. in zoology and environmental science. While in college, she was a member of many conservation and wildlife focused clubs, which granted her her first experiences in the conservation field, including going out to streams to look for salamanders and volunteering at a wildlife sanctuary where she helped take care of wolves, bears, and birds of prey. Allyson found her passion for teaching after graduation, when she took on an instructor position at a ballroom dance studio. About a year and a half later, she decided she missed the outdoors and transitioned to environmental education, taking a position at Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Wallops Island, VA and later an AmeriCorps position at the Huron-Manistee National Forests in northern Michigan. In her free time she enjoys dancing, kayaking, crafting, and reading.
MAURA LINCOLN
Maura has been an educator for 43 years, and her first “classroom” was at the NJ School of Conservation as a Teaching Fellow in 1978. She has a BA in Secondary Education from Kutztown University and an MA in Environmental Studies from Montclair State University. Prior to becoming a classroom teacher, Maura was one of the first women to become a Wildlife Field Worker for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Game Division. Whether blazing trails for wildlife management areas, reintroducing a species to New Jersey, or catching pheasants to stock gamelands, she loved every minute of being outdoors. Maura retired from public education in 2021. Her experience as a middle school Civics teacher gave her a deep understanding of the connection between being a responsible and contributing citizen, by knowing the laws and conserving our natural world.
LOIS LYONS
Lois Lyons found an affinity for the outdoors while volunteering at a local nature center. She decided to earn another degree and her biology professor inspired her to study science. After receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s, she taught high school AP Chemistry, Chem and Biology for 30 years. She advised Environmental Clubs. Lois earned a Presidential Award in Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Now retired, she volunteers for the Monmouth County Park System for hikes and paddle programs, as a Purple Martin and Bluebird monitor and Trail Marking leader. Her hobbies are hiking, watercolor painting, kayaking and travelling. Lois has found a new passion at NJSOC—once again teaching students by combining her love of the outdoors, science and the arts.
MICHAEL T. ROCHE
Michael T. Roche (Mr. Mike) first worked at NJSOC in the mid-1970's as part of the school's summer camp programs. Since then he has been recognized as an exemplary science educator numerous times on local, state and national levels. He has worked as a classroom teacher at Manchester Township High School in Ocean County and more recently with High Technology High School in Monmouth County. Mike currently serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Academies of Science (NAAS), specifically focusing on opportunities for student researchers involved with the American Junior Academy of Science.
SARAH SIEMINSKI
Sarah Sieminski has a degree in Biology from Drew University and was a Montclair State University Graduate Assistant at the NJSOC from 2001-2003, earning her Masters in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Education. After graduating she worked at the Greater Newark Conservancy teaching environmental and horticultural lessons in the Newark Public Schools, PK through College. Sarah lives in Frankford Township and is the proud mom of 2 high schoolers. She has continued to teach environmental education on Frankford Township School’s 5th grade trip to Camp Mason, and is excited to be teaching at the NJSOC again.
TANYA SULIKOWSKI
Tanya Sulikowski’s sixth grade field trip to the NJSOC inspired her career path as a field ecologist and classroom teacher. She returned to the school three more times: first as a Student Teacher in 1999, next as a Graduate Student conducting research in the Flat Brook River in 2011, and finally as Faculty in 2018 until the school closed in 2020. Tanya is thrilled to make her final career stop as the NJSOC Director of Education. Tanya is a National Geographic Grosvenor Teaching Fellow and earned the Women in Wildlife Award for Education by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ. During her off hours, she is an avid native plant and organic vegetable gardener and loves to hike, paddle, and explore the planet’s wildest places with friends and her husband Bruce.