John grew up on Barnegat Bay since the age of 12 years old.  He is a graduate of Monmouth  University with a B.S. in Biology and M.A. in Science Teaching. He has completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Science at Drexel University, PA.  John's focus is conservation biology, herpetology, and estuaries.  His main area of study is the nesting ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) focusing on human impacts.  John is a supervisor at MATES and works with student internship and research opportunities.  He also works with Project Terrapin and is advisor to the MATES chapter of the National Honor Society.

"I teach Oceanography in the fall and Student Research Methods and Applications in the spring.  My classes are applied in nature, taking concepts and applying a project-based learning style."