President

She/They

Email: kate@reptilecenter.org

Kate Boyd grew up with a deep connection to animals and nature. She is inspired by Steve Irwin and Sir David Attenborough to continue to learn about the amazing animals that share our world and to find ways for humans to better respect and coexist with them.

Kate became particularly interested in herpetofauna while pursuing her degree in Zoology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she participated in an internship at a Reptile and Amphibian Zoo and she was hooked. These often misunderstood animals needed a voice for their respect and conservation that she wanted to give to them.

Kate has been working in animal welfare since 2015 and can often be found presenting at our education and outreach programs, providing daily car for our rescues, and treating wildlife patients as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. She now lives with her large scaly and furry rescue family in Northern Colorado.

Vice President

They/Them

Email: neon@reptilecenter.org

Neon has been working in animal welfare since 2020, and developed a particular fondness for the less furry and feathery creatures. From education to rehabilitation, their fascination with herpetology is a driving motivator for Neon’s dedication to RACR.

There is a significant need for empathy and advocacy within the herpetological field, and Neon thoroughly enjoys altering peoples' perspectives on these highly misunderstood creatures.

In their spare time, you can find Neon flipping rocks and logs looking for elusive herpetofauna right here in Colorado.

Treasurer

They/He

Email: axel@reptilecenter.org

Axel grew up in Buffalo, NY. He received his bachelor's of music in music education at Nazareth College of Rochester, and spent his early career teaching orchestra in the public school systems in New York and Colorado. Now, he is a road rep and instrument repair technician for a local music store, and is happy to have time to devote to RACR.

Axel’s love of reptiles started when he held his first snake, Nagi (Ball Python). He knew she just had to come home with him. Since then, he has acquired four more pet snakes. While his passion mainly centers around snakes, he has enjoyed working with many reptile and amphibian species as a RACR volunteer. He has witnessed the need for proper care and husbandry education for reptiles and amphibians, and is also excited to contribute to programs teaching young kids and adults alike about these amazing animals.

Board Secretary

She/They

Email: nicole@reptilecenter.org

Nicole has been with RACR since it was originally formed! Her interest in reptiles began in youth, advocating for humane solutions to coexisting with the local garter snakes who occupy our suburban spaces. She acquired a few reptiles of her own as her interest developed, and now has a California King Snake (Sir Hiss) and a bearded dragon (Laurel).

Her favorite thing about reptiles is how different they are from humans, and how there is always something new to learn about them. When she's not working with herptiles, Nicole spends her time crocheting and horseback riding.

Social Media Coordinator

She/Her

Email: stephanie@reptilecenter.org

Stephanie has been an avid animal lover her entire life. As a child, she would spend hours in her grandmother's garden obsessing over 'roly poly' bugs, snakes and other critters she crossed paths with. Spending time with animals and immersing herself in their world was a calming and important experience that has remained a big part of her life today.

Stephanie's background is in art and she has a BFA from Metro State University. Today she utilizes these skills to create animal artwork and pet portraits. Stephanie has also become certified as a Master Herpetologist via The Amphibian Foundation and she loves to combine her passion of art and animals in hopes of painting stigmatized creatures in a loving light.

Stephanie also keeps a wide variety of reptiles (and mammals) as pets - many of which are rescues. Her hopes in joining RACR is to support the mission of advocating for reptiles and to help people understand the importance of rescue, adoption, conservation, and education.

Volunteer Coordinator

Shey/They

Email: maryalice@reptilecenter.org

Mary Alice was born and raised in the Deep South and began volunteering with RACR after arriving in Colorado in 2019. She has always had an affinity for nature and animals of all types, but her herpetophilia began with her work with RACR and continues to flourish today.

Her professional background spans journalism, communications, and veterinary medicine, and she looks forward to providing education and medical care for exotic critters in rural areas as a veterinarian in the future.

When she's not coordinating volunteers, helping out at outreach events or snapping photos, Mary Alice can be found spending time with her dog Jack, playing pub trivia, and putting in miles on the trails of Colorado and beyond.

Adoption Coordinator

He/Him

chad@nreptilecenter.org

Growing up in Florida, Chad always had a love and fascination with the abundance of wildlife around him, particularly the reptiles and amphibians. He spent all his sick days home from school watching Animal Planet, which also fueled a passion for conservation which has carried with him through life.

Chad was beyond excited when his wife, Rachel, informed him about the Northern Colorado Herpetological Society and Northern Colorado Wildlife Center, and they both began volunteering in the beginning of 2022. The two organizations provide wonderful opportunities to share his passion for wildlife with the community. Chad believes that advocacy, education, rehabilitation are all key to keeping our ecosystems healthy. He is aspiring to become a licensed animal rehabilitator so he can continue to make a positive impact on our local wildlife.

When Chad is not volunteering, he likes to spend his spare time hiking and taking photos of our beautiful state, along with the wildlife we share it with. At home, his time is spent caring for his own cold and warm blooded pets.

Adoption Coordinator

She/Her

Email: rachel@reptilecenter.org

Rachel has always had a love and appreciation for reptiles and amphibians. Much of her childhood was spent caring for a variety of pets or exploring nature and looking for frogs and turtles in every pond or ditch.

This love for animals and the environment led her to pursuing a degree in Biology, and she is hoping to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in the future. Rachel loves meeting people who are unfamiliar or misinformed about herptiles, and educating them about these misunderstood animals.

Conservation of our wild species as well as providing proper husbandry and enrichment for our rescue animals and pets are two of her biggest passions.

When not working or volunteering, Rachel’s free time is spent much like it was in her childhood - taking care of her pets, enjoying nature, and admiring wildlife.

Advisory Board Member

She/They

Hannah is a graduate of Colorado State University, where they received their B.S. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology with a concentration in wildlife biology.

She is passionate about a wide variety of ecological sciences but has always held a special place in her heart for reptiles and amphibians. They enjoy spending time with friends, making art, and educating the community about science!

During her time at CSU, Hannah participated in field studies in southern Colorado working alongside professionals and other growing scientists to collect data on the Colorado Checkered Whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus). She published this paper as part of her CSU senior honors thesis with the help of advisor Dr. Lise Aubry.

Hannah is currently living out of state working on converting a shuttle bus into an RV so she and her partner can travel the country and work on all kinds of ecological conservation projects!

Advisory Board Member

She/Her/Hers

Gaby has had a passion for science and biology from a young age. A recent graduate from CSU with a degree in Biology, her goal is to forward scientific study to help the world better understand animals and our environment to find a way to better coexist with them.

Gaby is passionate about forwarding scientific research for sea turtles in South America.

Advisory Board Member

Renee and Nicole are a mother-daughter team that have been part of the herpetological society since its beginning.

Renee, previously RACR’s Treasurer, has always always supported her daughter in everything she does. Renee has a Bachelors of Science in Math as well as a wealth of experience in rental management. In her free time she enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends.

Advisory Board Member

She/Her

Email: emma@nocohs.org

Emma is a graduate student at Colorado State University pursuing her Master’s degree in Ecology.

Her passion for herpetofauna stems from her previous work researching environmental impacts on amphibian populations and her experience captive-raising endangered hellbender salamanders for release back into the wild.

She loves talking about these unique and wonderful creatures. The world is tough for amphibians and reptiles right now, so she believes that we all can help spread awareness and excitement about herpetofauna conservation.

In her free time, Emma enjoys gardening and spoiling her three-legged cat, Aggie.