People

Josh Holbrook

Well hi there! I'm Josh Holbrook (most people just go with "Holbrook"), an assistant professor of Environmental Science and Director of Undergraduate Research at Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina, USA. I received a B.S. in Biology from Palm Palm Beach Atlantic University, a M.S. in Environmental Science from Florida Atlantic University, and a PhD in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Clemson University. At Montreat College, I teach ecology-related classes and advise student research in the southeast and the Neotropics. I wrote A Field Guide to the Snakes of Southern Florida and co-wrote The Field Herping Guide: Finding Amphibians and Reptiles in the Wild with the king of Field Herping, Mike Pingleton - and I've got a few more books in the pipeline! I love being able to mentor students in Ecology and life.

Liliane Leclercq

Hey! My name is Liliane Leclercq. I’m from Yonkers, New York. Although I grew up in the city I love the outdoors, going herping, little trinkets, and finding mushrooms. My love for everything outdoors came from Scouting; I am an Eagle Scout with Troop 777G. I am a freshman ES major with a concentration in wildlife conservation biology at Montreat College. To work with wildlife and better understand the ecosystems around me would fulfill all my life long desires.

Willow McCammon

Hello, my name is Willow! I currently live in Banner Elk, North Carolina. I admire the Appalachian Mountains and often depict the wildlife here in my art and other personal projects. I get a lot of my inspiration from my backyard that's rich in mushrooms and other fauna. I attended Montreat’s Compass Herpetology Camp twice (2023-2024) and I’ve since gained extra appreciation for reptiles/amphibians on top of my love for insects. I strive to incorporate my love for art and animals into my career.

Gage Caldwell

Hi! My name is Gage Caldwell and I am studying environmental science at Montreat and my personal focus is on alligators and hellbenders. I have always loved animals since I was a kid and knew I wanted to do something in this field. With this degree in my minor in biology I hope to become a teacher one day!

Ahren Muehleisen

Hello! My name is Ahren Muehleisen and I am from St. Louis, Missouri. I’m an avid outdoorsman including hunting, fishing, and herping. I came to Montreat after seeing the opportunity to explore the Appalachian Mountains and see what they have to offer. I frequent the small streams in search of native Brook Trout. I’m passionate about conservation work and seeing things the way God made them to be!

Lani Daugherty

Hi! My name is Lani Daugherty. I am a Freshman at Montreat College. I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors, and I always knew I was interested in this field. I came to Montreat for Compass Herpetology camp in 2022 and have since become even more interested in reptiles and amphibians. I hope to pursue a career that allows me to continue focusing on entomology or herpetology !

Matt Mangum

Hello! My name is Matt Mangum, and I'm from Concord, NC! I am an Environmental Science major at Montreat College, and I love all things Herpetology. Snakes are my absolute favorites, although all herps have a special place in my heart. My main goal in life is to help others find joy in the appreciation of nature as I have!

Socorro Turner

Hey y’all! My name is Socorro Turner, but most folks call me Soco. I’m a junior at Montreat studying Environmental Science and Data Science with a focus on ArcGIS. I’m a proud Appalachian from Fairview, North Carolina. I grew up spending as much time outside as possible: riding horses, caring for livestock, fishing with my Grandad, catching “sally-manders,” searching for crawdaddies, and becoming my friend group’s resident snake handler. I’ve spent equal time out West in the Rockies and Cascades, as well as running around San Juan Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. When I’m not in the field with my pup Knox, I’m usually behind my computer researching, writing up educational materials, or working on my blog. I’m excited to continue Zoë’s work on Timber Rattlesnakes.

Lydia Norman

I am a junior and my ES concentration is natural resource management, which I hope to use to get a job in wildlife management post-graduation. I am most interested in Mammalogy, specifically ungulates, but my research project assessing hellbenders post- Hurricane Helene has made me appreciate the herpetology world more!

Lab Alumni:

Zoë Riggs

Zoë worked on a variety of projects during her time at Montreat, including work with invasive aquatic plants and their effects on wetland fauna and remote sensing Timber Rattlesnake dens. She also received the Garden Club of America Mary Carothers Scholarship to study wetland plants in Perú. Zoë works for the State of South Carolina conducting macroinvertebrate assessments in creeks in Rivers throughout the state.

MJ Strange

MJ worked in HERP Lab developing a project with the Lake James Environmental Association to inventory the turtle species of the Lake James Watershed. During her time surveying turtles, she encountered 6 species, including several large snapping turtles and River Cooters, which were previously undocumented in western NC. MJ married John Strange, another ES major, and the two now live with their new baby, Rosemary, in western North Carolina.

Elie Shaver

Elie was a a Ledford Scholar in the HERP Lab working to develop a reliable field assessment for Chytrid fungal infection. She tested her methodology on frogs in the Peruvian Amazon and found field histological analysis to be the most effective. Elie now works as a veterinary technichian in Asheville.

Jeremiah Bryan

I am Jeremiah Bryan and I majored in Biology under the concentration Applied Biochemical Technologies. I developed a micro-scale Total Phosphorus Assay to be used alongside a General Esterase Assay. I used these assays to undergo novel research on the trophic state of wetlands in the Amazon Rainforest. I am now a practicing Chemist.

Whitney Kincaid

Hey! I’m Whitney Kincaid. I’m originally from Cleveland, Tennessee but moved to Knoxville, Tennessee after I graduated from Montreat. Unlike most of my peers, I did not grow up super outdoorsy. I loved being outside but didn’t have much interest in the flora or fauna until I got to Montreat. Once here I learned of my love for herps, specifically crocodilians, and later did a study on the dietary differences between American Alligators. I also was privileged enough to be able to study the diets of Caiman in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. I now work for RSI, a contract company with a contract at United Oak Ridge Cleanup (UCOR). I’m on the decomission and deactivation (D&D) crew.

Brenna McEntire

My name is Brenna McEntire and I’m originally from Asheville, North Carolina, but I was raised in Hong Kong. My love for science and wildlife began there as a kid surrounded by jungle and all the incredible critters found within it. I moved back to the states at seventeen and decided on attending Montreat College, graduating in 2022. Currently, I’m working as a contract Forestry Specialist for Duke Energy, thriving outside and frolicking all over the beautiful carolinas.

Drake Fowler

Hey, my name is Drake Fowler! I'm originally from Key Largo, Florida, but moved to Murphy, North Carolina in 2018. I have played soccer for most of my life, including here collegiately at Montreat College. I love all things outside, whether it's sports or animals. I'm an avid birder in the daytime at heart, but also an energetic herper as the sun goes down. Due to those interests, I would love to study and conserve those organisms however best I can, so working with them would be a dream come true.

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