From left to right: Alli Dickey, Randy Thomas, Dana Donkle, and Brooke Harowitz
Alli Dickey recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with two degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife and Journalism. She originally gained a love for wildlife biology in the Great Plains of Kansas City, Kansas, but decided to pursue science communication to inspire others. Alli has written for National Geographic Kids Magazine and interned abroad in Mossel Bay, South Africa doing environmental journalism. She is excited to bring her communication skills to marine education and incite a passion in the next generation of scientists.
Randy Thomas made his way from the Motor City in Detroit, Michigan down to the palm trees of the Keys. He is a recent graduate from The University of Toledo with a B.S in Environmental Science and a minor in Counseling. Throughout his undergraduate years, Randy has worked with The Toledo Zoo, researched locally in the Midwest and internationally across Asia and South America, and volunteered with a variety of organizations. His passion for animals started from a very young age; especially his liking for the ocean. Randy began teaching and volunteering with youth on conservation education and animal welfare since 2015 and in his spare time loves to travel, scuba dive, and seek out the next adventure. Randy is looking forward to working on Pigeon Key and making a lasting impact on the foundation and its visitors!
Dana Donkle was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Marine Science and a minor in Studio Art. During her studies, Dana interned at the Riverbanks Aquarium, volunteered as a feed diver and was lucky enough to receive her advanced scuba certification on the Great Barrier Reef while studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia. Since earing her degree, she has worked for a nonprofit as an environmental educator in South Carolina and with the loggerhead sea turtle restoration project on Cape Romain. Dana is thrilled to be working with Pigeon Key in order to be closer to warm weather and coral reefs. She hopes to inspire young marine scientists to love the ocean and learn how to conserve our delicate ecosystems through her passions for ocean conservation with her love for painting ocean creatures—especially cephalopods.
Brooke Harowitz was born in Tampa, Florida and raised in Voorhees, New Jersey. She recently graduated from American University in Washington, DC with a bachelor’s degree in Film & Media Arts and Environmental Science. During her college career, Brooke pursued her life-long interest in marine conservation through two communication internships with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in Maryland and a marine mammal and sea turtle stranding investigations internship with Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida. Brooke’s passion for fostering a love of the ocean in the next generation lead her to an internship with the Pigeon Key Foundation. She is excited for the opportunity to raise awareness about important conservation issues by teaching marine science education programs to student groups visiting Pigeon Key.
