Meet the Staff

Michael Nelson - Refuge Director
Michael is a graduate of Penn State University with a BS in Recreation and Parks Management with a focus on Outdoor Education & Environmental Interpretation. Michael started volunteering at the Refuge in 1991, began working full-time as an Educator / Naturalist in 1996, and became the Refuge Director in October 2000.

Marisa Nelson - Program Director
Marisa has been familiar with the Refuge since 1992, when she worked as a co-op student through Southampton College. She then became a registered nurse after graduating from Pace University. Having a love for both careers, Marisa had spent her summers working at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, and returned to her nursing career during the rest of the year. Marisa has worked full time at the Refuge as an Environmental Educator since 2003, and was hired as Assistant Director in the spring of 2006.

Landon Simmons grew up in East Moriches enjoying the woods and waters of eastern Long Island. He graduated from SUNY Cortland in upstate New York with a bachelor's degree in Outdoor Recreation and Education Management. He was a student in the Refuge's Summer Ecology Program and remembers visiting the animals as a young child. Now he is back to give others the experience he had here at the Refuge while enjoying the outdoors with family and friends.

Samantha Dettmer is a native of Quogue and also attended camp as a child at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge. Samantha graduated from LIU Southampton with a BA in Arts Management and has extensive experience in special events and fundraising. She has had a lifelong love of animals and is thrilled to be back here at the Refuge.