Faculty Instructors and Advisors

Merry Lea has an outstanding staff that is qualified to teach and advise in the program. Their graduate degrees include conservation biology, biological science, outdoor resources management, educational leadership, forestry and entomology. The staff has many years of experience in delivering environmental education programs to all age levels. The staff has worked with a year-long internship program for six years, which was designed as a precursor to the master’s in environmental education

Luke Gascho, Executive Director of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center

B.S. in Biology and Education, Eastern Mennonite University, 1974
M.A. in Christian School Administration, Grace Theological Seminary, 1983
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Nova Southeastern University, 1998

Luke Gascho has served as executive director of Merry Lea since 1997. He has 20 years of experience as a school administrator. Strategic planning and implementation are areas of expertise and focus in his leadership at Merry Lea. Additionally, he has served as the chair of strategic planning for the past 6 years at Goshen College. As a result of the work in completing the first phase of Rieth Village, Luke has become a regular presenter on green architecture and sustainable design. His interests include nature photography, gardening, woodworking, and reading in various themes related to earth stewardship.

David J. Miller, Program Director at Merry Lea and Assistant Professor of Biology

B.S. in Biology and Bible, Eastern Mennonite University, 1964
M.S. in Entomology, University of Delaware, 1972
Ph.D. in Entomology, Michigan State University, 1977

Dave has been Program Director at Merry Lea since 1988. His scientific interests are in natural history, specifically in biodiversity. Current field research is the development of species lists of selected insect orders at Merry Lea. Also of interest is the intersection of faith/spirituality and science. Hobbies - nature photography and woodworking.

LisaRenee English, Assistant Professor of Biology and Director of Environmental Science

B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 1997
M.S. in Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 1999
Ph.D. in Biological Science, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 2003

William Minter, Director of Land Management at Merry Lea and Assistant Professor of Environmental Science B.S. in Natural Resources Management, Colorado State University, 1980
M.S.F. in Forest Ecology, Purdue University, 1989

Bill Minter, a certified professional forester, has served at Merry Lea since 1991 as Director of Land Management. As an Asst. Prof. of Environmental Science within GC's Biology Dept, he teaches Forest Resources and Land Management in support of its Environmental Science Major.

Dale Hess, Director of Collegiate Programs and Professor of Agroecology

B.A. in Biology, Millersville State Teachers College, 1976
M.S. in Plant Pathology, Purdue University, 1984
Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding, Purdue University, 1989

Dale Hess, a plant pathologist and plant breeder, joined the Merry Lea staff in 2004. His interests include integrated pest and disease management and promoting the development of agricultural systems that function like natural ecosystems. He directs and teaches in Merry Lea's Agroecology Summer Intensive.

Paul Steury, K-12 Education Coordinator at Merry Lea

B.A. in Sociology, Goshen College, 1988
M.S. in Outdoor Resources Management, Indiana University, 1997

Paul Steury has been at Merry Lea since 2001. His interests include wild edible plants, citizenry, the definition of environmental education, current environmental issues, politics, and ethics, and how people learn.

Lisa Zinn, Environmental Science Educator at Merry Lea

B.A. in Biology, Houghton College, 1992
M.En. in Conservation Biology, Miami University, 2002

Lisa Zinn has worked as an Environmental Science Educator at Merry Lea since 2003 and has been working in the field of Environmental Education for 12 years. She also conducts research at Merry Lea and supervises student researchers. One of her major interested is in the field of Ornithology. Along with David Miller she helps to run two MAPS bird banding stations at Merry Lea as part of a national bird population study.