Steven M. Hein
                         Director

Steve Hein Brings his passion for falconry, artistic talent, business skills and a tremendous sense of fun to his work at the Center for Wildlife Education. Steve earned a degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University. He holds Federal and State Licenses as a Master Falconer, and practices this ancient art with tremendous enthusiasm. As a wildlife artist, Steve received the Georgia Governor's "Artist of Excellence" award: won the 1987 and 1988 Georgia Wildlife Management Area Stamps; was chosen in 1986, 1987, and 1990 Georgia Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year; and worked on a national level with Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Corporate patrons include Nations Bank and Coca-Cola. Most recently, Steve painted Drumming Palm Cockatoo for the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Species Survival Plan and White Oak Conservation Center. Serving as the Center's director since its inception in 1991, Steve is also the president of the Statesboro Convention and Visitor's Bureau and has completed the Leadership Bulloch and Leadership Southeast Georgia Programs. He is a 2002 participant in Leadership Georgia and past chair of Leadership Southeast Georgia. Steve and his wife Kathy have four children, Adam, Meredith, Colleen and Mallory.

 

 

Scott Courdin
                     Wildlife Curator

Scott Courdin supervises all the raptors of the Center for Wildlife Education's exhibits and flighted demonstrations, as well as the reptiles, amphibians, fish, mammals, and invertebrates of the Center's collection. Scott is an accomplished wildlife rehabilitator, falconer and environmental educator. Scott serves as a member of the Georgia National Guard with the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry.  In 2005 Scott was deployed for 16 months to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom III & IV and is currently deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.  Scott holds a A.A. in General Science from Georgia Military College, a B.A. in Anthropology from Georgia Southern University and has been employed at the Wildlife Center since 1997.  

Jackie Entz
                    Interim Wildlife Curator

Jackie is a wildlife educator and reproductive herpetologist (studies amphibians and reptiles).  Her current research focuses on the reproductive differences of two Georgia populations of Gopher Tortoises.  Jackie has been working for the Wildlife Center since 2003 as both a student and now as the interim curator.  As the interim curator, her job is to maintain the health of the Wildlife Center’s animal collection by managing daily care, training animals, and designing new husbandry guidelines.  Jackie graduated in 2006 with a B.S. in Biology from Georgia Southern University.  During her undergraduate career she looked at the effects of fire ecology on small mammals in Longleaf Pine Forests.  She graduated with a Masters in Science in biology in 2009 from Georgia Southern University.  Her master’s research was on Gopher tortoise reproduction, which will be published in a scientific journal.  During her masters she also was involved in reproductive research for many other animals including:  Loggerhead Sea turtles, Desert Tortoises, Radiated Tortoises, and Chicken turtles. 

 

Pam Harley
                   Business Manager

Pam Harley earned a BBA in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University in 1990. Pam manages all business and operational affairs for The Center for Wildlife Education, as well as outreach program scheduling and facility rental.  She has been employed at Georgia Southern University since May 1990 and has been on staff at the Wildlife Center since October 2005. 

 

 

Janice Chester
                        Secretary

Janice joined the Wildlife Center staff in May 2009.  She began her career at Georgia Southern University in 1984 with the Physical Plant Division.  Prior to joining Georgia Southern Janice worked as Assistant Manager for Statesboro Merchants Credit Bureau for over five years.  She graduated with a Secretarial Degree from Swainsboro Area Vo-Tech in 1976. Janice lives in Statesboro with her husband, Huey Chester.  Janice has one son, Cody, who is a chef at an exclusive resort in Ireland.