Staff
Rebecca Haynes
Vice President and Executive Director, South Carolina
Rebecca joined Audubon in March 2023 after a near-decade with Conservation Voters of South Carolina, and brings a deep understanding of the conservation, political, and policy landscape in South Carolina to her role as Executive Director. In addition to helping double the size of the organization and tripling its operating budget during her tenure, Rebecca was also pivotal in the development and success of the South Carolina Conservation Coalition, a formal dues-paying coalition comprising over 40 environmental organizations from across the state.
Rebecca spent her early career as a watershed manager at South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control and later as an associate director of Southeast Conservation for American Rivers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a certificate in Environmental Ethics, and a Master of Science degree in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development from the University of Georgia. When not at work, you can find Rebecca volunteering in her community or spending time in nature with her husband and son and their two dogs and cat.
Angelina Ricci Eisenhauer
Senior Director
Angelina joined Audubon South Carolina in January 2018 as the organziation's Policy and Communications Director, before shifting into her current role, in which she helps guide overall strategy and operations of the organization. Before making the shift to the conservation world, Angelina was a senior vice president at Edelman, a global communications agency, in their Washington and Shanghai offices. As a member of the agency’s energy and public affairs team, Angelina managed large, cross-practice education and advocacy programs on behalf of clients ranging from Fortune 10 companies to major national trade associations. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Centre College in Kentucky, and a master’s degree in publication design from the University of Baltimore. When she’s not at work, she enjoys going on outdoor adventures with her two young sons.
Sherri Fields
Conservation Director
Sherri began her career working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, DC on wetlands and water policy, later moving to EPA’s regional office in Atlanta to work on community-based approaches to environmental protection and regulatory compliance. She joined the Southeast Region of the National Park Service in 2003 where she served as the regional Chief of the Science and Natural Resource Management Division and later as the Deputy Regional Director for Natural and Cultural Resources, supporting over 66 park units across the Southeast. In 2017, she assumed the role of Laboratory Director of the Hollings Marine Lab for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Charleston, SC. Sherri has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science from Hampton University, a Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University, and an Ed.D. in Leadership from Charleston Southern University.
Timothy Boatright
Office Manager
A native of Savannah, GA, Tim obtained his undergraduate degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Georgia and went on to receive his master’s degree in environmental studies from the College of Charleston. Prior to joining Audubon, he worked as an outreach associate with the South Carolina Aquarium and the Lowcountry Land Trust. Tim’s hobbies include reading, yoga, trying new experiences, soapy/reality television and fitness.
Julia Dietz
Policy Director
Julia joined Audubon SC in 2020 after several years in Florida, where she most recently served as the Acting Director of the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She previously served under two Florida Governors as Environmental Policy Coordinator and Deputy Chief of Staff, leading conservation, energy and other environmental-related legislation and budget initiatives. She got her start at Conservation International and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Florida and holds a graduate degree in Forest Resources and Conservation with a concentration in Ecological Restoration and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science.
Maggie Kalergis
Development Manager
Maggie is a skilled fundraiser and communicator with a passion for connecting donors to programming that protects birds and the critical natural resources they—and all of us—depend on. In her role as Development Manager, Maggie leads the growth and expansion of the major gifts program for Audubon in South Carolina and supports the staff and volunteers in their role as fundraisers. Prior to joining Audubon, Maggie served in various fundraising roles at Lowcountry Land Trust and the Northern Virginia-based Inova Health Foundation, and supported communications and events at Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). She has a bachelor’s degree in Art History and American Studies from the University of Virginia. When she’s not working, you can find Maggie spending time outdoors with her family.
Jennifer McCarthey Tyrrell
Engagement Manager
Jen is a Master Bird Bander with a B.S. from Coastal Carolina and a Master's degree from the College of Charleston. Before joining Audubon, Jen worked with Wild Birds Unlimited, the Center for Birds of Prey, The Citadel and American Military University / American Public Univeristy. Today, Jen spreads the word about bird-friendly communities and the benefits of native plants, and also works on bird banding, research, and Motus Network coordination. Jen is passionate about birds and conservation and loves to share her enthusiam with the everyone she meets.
Abigail (Abby) Burke
Coastal Stewardship Coordinator
Abby earned her bachelor's degree from Salve Regina University with a double major in Environmental Studies and Cultural and Historic Preservation. She has worked as a shorebird/sea turtle biologist with the National Park Service mostly on her home turf of Cape Cod, MA but also at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores in NC. Her experience includes patrolling beaches for threatened and endangered shorebirds, identifying shorebird behavior, utilizing remote cameras, erecting enclosures to protect nests and colonies, banding shorebirds, training interns and volunteers, and conducting non-breeding bird surveys. In her free time, Abby enjoys traveling, hiking, and mountain biking.
Matt Johnson
Beidler Forest Center Director
Matt is the Center Director at the Audubon Center & Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest. A native of South Carolina, he grew up in Columbia and attended Clemson University from 2003-2009, earning an undergraduate degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Biology, as well as a Masters in Biological Sciences. Matt started working for Audubon South Carolina in 2013 as the Education Manager at Beidler Forest, where he fell in love with the old-growth swamp, the cypress knees, Prothonotary Warblers and Brown Watersnakes! He became Center Director in 2019 and looks forward to carrying on the legacy of environmental education, research, and conservation at Beidler. Matt particularly enjoys leading programs, conducting bird research, and learning more about the cultural history of the land on which Beidler exists today.
Emily Davis
Beidler Forest Center Manager
As an artist, data enthusiast, traveler and passionate birder, Emily brings a rich and unique perspective to her role as center manager for the Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest. With B.A. in creative writing and fine arts from Kent State, her experiences have ranged from shadowing contemporary artists in New York City to having her own work auctioned off in support of warbler research and studies. Her background with groups such as the Avian Conservation Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, combined with her drive for continued education, will serve her well in her role with Audubon.
Richard Covey
Guest Relations Associate
Richard has been leading guided walks and canoe trips at Beidler Forest beginning in 2009. He enjoys art, nature, and computers, and is a generalist in that regard, but during his time here he has designed and painted displays for the visitor center and boardwalk, worked on Audubon South Carolina's website, produced animations for projects, herded cats during summer camp, and helped many adults get over their fear of snakes. He has stayed on the property during one ice storm, one winter bomb cyclone, one thousand year flood, and three... four...? Hurricanes. One of his favorite programs to give are nightwalks, especially during firefly season.
Timothy Evans
Director of Land Conservation
As a TWS Certified Wildlife Biologist, forester and Geographic Information Systems specialist with nearly 30 years of experience in resource management in both the public and private sectors, Timothy brings a wealth of experience to his role as forest manager. His responsibilities include oversight and management of Audubon’s Silver Bluff and Francis Beidler Forest sanctuaries, which comprise more than 22,000 acres of ecologically diverse forests, fields, lakes, ponds, streams, and swamps and expanding our bird-friendly forestry outreach in South Carolina’s Continentally Important Bird Areas and Climate Strongholds for birds facing increasing threats to habitat. If there’s anything Tim loves more than forestry, it’s spending time with his wife and his dog.
Brandon Heitkamp
Sanctuary Manager
Brandon is Sanctuary Manager on behalf of Silver Bluff, Audubon's 3,400-acre sanctuary and demonstration site for bird-friendly forestry. Equipped with a degree in forest management from Clemson, Brandon is also passionate about teaching landowners bird-friendly forestry, a concept that he helped Audubon South Carolina develop. His dream is to spread the word among landowners and land managers, and eventually get bird-friendly techniques included in forestry curricula throughout the Southeast United States.
Mark Musselman
Land Manager
Mark is responsible for the nuts and bolts of overseeing Audubon's Beidler Forest Center & Sanctuary's 18,000 acres of land, including longleaf pine restoration. And if you’re looking for a lost fighter jet, put Mark on it. A former Marine, teacher, and graduate of USC, Mark recently happened on the wreckage of an old military plane, then spent months tracking down its history.