Who We Are
Museum Staff

 

	Dan Harder Executive Director Understanding nature is a life-long passion for Dan. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in botany from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and went on to graduate school in botany at UC Berkeley. After graduation Dan was hired as an assistant Curator at the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) in St Louis.  For more than a decade, he curated large collections of tropical legumes within the herbarium and led programs in botanical collecting, inventory, and research in 15 countries in the Old World.  He established collaborative partnerships in Africa and Indochina that led to significant new species discoveries and new records for the floras of these regions. For eight years, until late in 2009, Dan was the Executive Director of the UCSC Arboretum and an adjunct faculty member at UCSC. He continues his research on plants from the Central Coast as a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Dan is excited to be working to sustain the Museum and support its primary mission of connecting people with nature and inspiring stewardship of the natural world.
	Liz Broughton Visitor Services Manager Liz grew up in the San Lorenzo Valley before heading off to UC Berkeley to pursue a degree in anthropology and Celtic studies. While there she conducted research on baboon teeth morphology for the Integrative Biology Department and interned with the Hearst Museum of Anthropology. She continued her education at the University of Washington in Seattle where she earned an MA in the little known field of Museology. She gained a broad understanding of museums through coursework and internships at the Burke Museum of Natural History, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum. Liz is passionate about public understanding and engagement in science and is excited to be a part of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.
	Deborah McArthur Education Manager Deborah is a native Californian and happy to settle back in the redwoods and on the coast in Santa Cruz. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Marine concentration at UCLA, a Teaching Credential for Secondary Biology and Science and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. She has been a Naturalist and Outdoor Educator in the redwoods, Swiss Alps, Alaskan rainforest, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. Deborah was the Education Coordinator at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA for 5 years before coming to the museum. Deborah manages the school and public education programs and is passionate about promoting strong community, developing observation skills, and cultivating a sense of wonder for the natural world.
	Alie Welch Financial Administrator Alie has been fascinated with the sea cow since coming across an entry about the trials and tribulations of Steller's sea cow in old encyclopedia volume that she used to read for fun as a kid.  Hushed rumors circulate that possible sightings of a living sea cow have been made from the bluffs above Seabright Beach.  As the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has a sea cow skeleton, speculation has grown that it's the long-lost mate of the Museum’s specimen returning at last.  When you visit the Museum, perhaps you will see it in the boiling surf, searching.... If you do, please let Alie know asap. She logs the sightings. Alie has years of experience working in non-profit finance at local organizations, both as staff and a board member.  She graduated from UCSC with a BA in film production and modern literature, loves star gazing, chess playing, and spinning fantastic yarns.
	Peter Wampler Education Assistant Peter was raised in the outskirts of Rochester, New York. It was here in the surrounding forests, that he began his lifelong love of the outdoors. While attending Calvin College as a history and archaeology student, this curiosity took greater shape as he began taking notice of environmental issues and the ideas of stewardship. This interest spring-boarded a career in environmental education that has meandered through two outdoor schools in central California. Professionally, Peter has also worked with adults and children with varying disabilities. Peter coordinates the Neary Lagoon Wetland Walk Program and assists with education programs at the museum. While his passions lie in education and environment, you may also see Peter around town riding his bike, out hiking, or checking out local music.
	Matt Miller Education Assistant Matt spend his early years romping around the capitol landscape of Sacramento, CA. From a young age he had a penchant for the wild and natural. Spending his early years exploring the splendor of state parks with his family, he kept these places close to heart. His path found him volunteering for CA State Parks and sent him to the Environmental Studies Department at UC Santa Cruz. In his new home, he found himself biking all over the Santa Cruz Mountains; volunteering at local farms, various Life Lab garden classrooms, and working with CA State Parks. The Museum has seen him play several roles, filling in as Neary Lagoon Program Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator. His latest role is Sandhills Program Coordinator. Brimming with enthusiasm for the natural world, he finds sharing it with others one of the most rewarding parts. Matt will be taking a leave from Museum until September 2012 as he embarks on Natural History Field Quarter through UCSC and a cross country bike tour over the summer.