Who We are:
museum volunteers
Our Volunteers make up the backbone of the organization. Weather it's driving up the mountain on a snowy afternoon to feed birds, or educating the public at an exhibit at a local festival, they are always on hand to help out. Over the years, we have been fortunate to encounter so many people in so many stages of their lives and careers it is impossible to name them all. It is just as impossible to leave them out. Thanks to all of the past, present and future volunteers!
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
As with any non-for-profit organization, the Board of Directors is key to fulfilling our mission. The individuals listed below donate their time and efforts to making it all happen. If you are interested in supporting them in their good work or joining the team, please reach out to Wanda Walkowiak
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Board President-John Greene
Owner of Greene’s Servicenter
Board member since 2022
John has worked in his family’s automotive business for over 55 years, the past 30 running the business. He has been a part of the Wilmington planning commission, Valley Vision 2000 committee, and a long-time member of the Wilmington trails committee, developing and connecting regional hiking trails. As a member of the local Masons, he is the caretaker for the 200-acre Pool Farm property that adjoins the Museum’s Pool Nature Center facility.
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vice chair- John (Jack) Widness m.d.
Retired academic pediatrician and researcher
Board member since 2019
Since retirement, Jack has become active in conservation work, including service on the following boards: Trout Unlimited (Connecticut River Chapter- President); and Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes. During summers, Jack supervises the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Greeter Programs at Harriman and Somerset Reservoirs. He is an also active member of his local Lake Raponda Association in Wilmington.
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co-treasurer- Mary Therese Wright, MFA
Painter, Printmaker, Metalsmith, Curator, Educator and Collaborator
Board Member since 2024
Mary is a Museum trained animal care volunteer. Mary provides weekly overall animal care and enrichment for our non-releasable education birds, reptiles and mammals. Professionally, Mary’s artwork and community based art projects have been shown throughout the United States. Mary was a founding director of Campicaso@, a traveling artist-run organization focused on connecting school age children through media and creativity. Mary opened Gallery Wright, a brick and mortar retail exhibition and teaching space, representing 25 regional and national artists in Wilmington, VT in 2001. Mary taught workshops in school systems, artist-run spaces and non-profits. Mary has served on Boards and Advisory Boards of local and state arts organizations and numerous Town committees. For the past twenty something years, Mary has called a small Vermont town with a big wild lake, home.
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co-treasurer- Tamara (Tami) Purcell
Owner of Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors
Board Member since 2024
Tami has been working in the family business, which started in 1965, for 38 years. Prior to real estate Tami had an animal science background and for the past 30 years has owned a small horse farm. She currently serves on the boards of the Windham County Humane Society and the River Gallery School of Art. Tami is a member of the Brattleboro Rotary Club.
directer- gisella (gig) Zboray
Selectboard Administrator and wearer of many other hats for the Town of Whitingham, VT
Board member since August 2025
Gig moved to Vermont in 2001, raising her young family in Readsboro and was very active in the First Baptist Church serving on the church council and as treasurer and with the Readsboro School serving on many committees over the years and as treasurer of the PTG. She also ran several WINGS afterschool programs.
In 2012 Gig started working for the Town of Whitingham, part time at first and is now Selectboard Administrator. She recently won several large grants and as a result is overseeing several large construction projects. Her other titles include Town Health Officer, Zoning and Flood Plain Administrator and Emergency Management Director. Gig works closely with most of the commissions and committees in the town.
Gig has always had a love of the outdoors, wildlife, and enjoys all sorts of museums. Becoming a board member of the Vermont Museum of Natural History is a good fit with her interests.
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founder and president emeritus
Edward Metcalfe jr.
Ed served as the volunteer Executive Director of the museum from 1996 to 2024. He is currently the owner of Vermont Distillers, has extensive business experience and is a long-time advocate of environmental education. He served for five years on the Whitingham Planning Commission, three as its Chair and served nine years on the Whitingham School Board and six years as board member and Chair of the Twin Valley School District. He is a licensed pilot in Sailplanes, Hot-Air Balloons, and Airplanes; is a certified scuba diver and is a past EMT and fire department member. He has been a member of the Whitingham-Halifax Lions Club for 38 years. He now serves on the boards of the and Marlboro’s Hogback Preservation Commission.
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museum staff
When it was founded in 1997, the Museum was the unpaid labor of love for Edward Metcalfe who ran the operation by himself. Over the years he took on a few volunteers, eventually an assistant director was hired, and by 2024 we were operating with 4 paid staff and up to 4 contract staff working from our Pool Nature Center. This is only the beginning and we are looking forward to a future Museum on par with the biggest attractions in the state! Are we hiring now? Take a look here to find out.
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executive director, michael clough With a career in environmental and non-traditional education spanning 25 years, Michael has been at the Museum since 2009 when he started as a volunteer raptor trainer. As Managing Director he oversaw volunteers, social media and facilities needs and was the primary educator for the Museum's off-site and Pool Nature Center Programs. Hired as Executive Director in 2024 he continues in participate in those areas and works closely with the board and community to promote the Museum's mission and move us forward into a very exciting future.
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office manager, kristine sweeterAmong many unofficial roles, Kristine serves as the hub for most Museum activities. She helps with grant writing and administration, program development, promotions and most importantly scheduling and billing for our over 250 presentations a year! As Director of the local Whitingham Free Library, Kristine is also in a great position to provide a different viewpoint to our education activities and facilitate the Museum's relationship with libraries around the State.
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animal care manager, harmony maverick
With a technical background in aerospace manufacturing, Harmony started volunteering with the Museum in 2021, expecting only to sweep floors and clean the taxidermy exhibits. She quickly became an active volunteer helping not just with cleaning, but also animal care, educational programs, and even eventually taking over a significant portion of the Museum’s social media. Assuming the roll of animal care manager in 2025 aligns well with her goal to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
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Education coordinator, anna caputo
Anna received her B.A. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Environmental Education from Green Mountain College. After graduating, she went on to develop her skills as an educator in Vermont, Rhode Island, and New Jersey, picking up a passion for wetlands, birds, and coastal ecology along the way. This led her to pursue a master’s degree in marine science from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, where she created a k-12 education program informed by estuarine research. In 2025, she decided to come back home to Vermont to help connect people to the nature and ecology around them. Anna aims to bring her passion for science and conservation in role as Education Coordinator at the Vermont Museum of Natural History.
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