Dr. Kevin Czajkowski (Dr. C) Birth place: North Tonawanda, New York High school: Barker Central School College: Graduate - University of Michigan Undergraduate – State University of New York at Oneonta Title: Associate Professor Residence (City/State): Toledo, Ohio Married to/ name of spouse: Kathleen Children: Robby and Timmy Person you most admire My Dad Pets/ what kind/ name: Bubblesquish, the goldfish Hobbies: playing ice hockey and volleyball Favorite movie: Star Wars Favorite Food: Pizza Favorite music: Pop – Elton John, Billy Joel, singers like that. Favorite book: Leon Uris’ Mila 18 Least favorite class in high school / why: English – I have trouble reading and spelling. I was told in high school that I would have trouble in college, because I read so slowly. I worked at it, and now I am a professor. Most favorite class in high school: I didn’t really have a favorite class. I enjoyed snow days. I watched the weather during the winter hoping for a day off from school which lead me to take meteorology in college. I didn’t have an Earth Science class in high school. That would probably have been my favorite class. This is one of the reasons I work with teachers and students. I want more students to learn about earth science and technology in school. Who or what inspired you to go into teaching: My family (Mom, Grandmother, Aunts, sister-in-laws) are all and have been teachers. I recognize how difficult it is to teach and the demands placed on teachers. I wanted to do what I could to help teachers and inspire students to go into science and math.

Alison L. Spongberg Birth place: The Heart of Ohio…Delaware, Ohio High school: Rutherford B. Hayes …although I never graduated College: Texas A & M University Title: Associate Professor Residence (State): Ohio Spouse/Partner in Life: Jeff Children: No, thank you. Person you most admire: Linus Pauling Pets/ what kind/ name: Two cats, Woody and Ferguson, numerous unnamed frogs and fish. Hobbies: Bicycling, making stained glass objects, gardening, making and dressing in Victorian clothes. Favorite movie: Fantasia Favorite Food: Tomatoes, raw Favorite music: Classical Favorite book: To Know a Fly Least favorite class in high school / why: I liked them all, but Poetry was my least favorite. Most favorite class in high school: Typing or gym Who or what inspired you to go into a science-related field or teaching: My grandparents. My grandfather was a Physics and a Greek professor at Princeton. My grandmother always talked about living longer than Linus Pauling. Something my friends would be surprised if they knew this about me: I got my first F in second grade on a Weekly Reader, and I never officially graduated from High School.

Mark A. Templin Birth place: Toledo, OH High school: DeVilbiss High School Toledo Public Schools College: BE, MS & Ed. - The University of Toledo Ph. D. - The University of Michigan Title: Assistant Professor of Science Education Residence (State): Michigan Spouse/Partner in Life: Carolyn Templin Children: Carl (17), Veronica (16), Michelle (15), and Alissa (11) Person you most admire: My parents and my father and mother-in-law; each is an unsung hero. Pets/ what kind/ name: 1 rabbit, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 4 guinea pigs and a horse named “Snippy” Hobbies: restoring antique tractors and cars Favorite movie: “Star Wars” Favorite Food: pizza Favorite music: a variety from classical to rock Favorite book: I don’t really have a favorite. Least favorite class in high school / why: Typing class – it was mindless Most favorite class in high school: chemistry Who or what inspired you to go into a science-related field or teaching: Both of my parents were teachers. They inspired me to go into teaching. Something my friends would be surprised if they knew this about me: In the distant past, I played guitar in a music group.

Terri Benko Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio High school: Villa Angela Academy College: BS – The University of Toledo AAB - Lakeland Community College Title: Senior Research Project Manager Residence (State): Ohio Spouse/Partner in Life: Lenny Children: 1 son Person you most admire: My Aunt Mary Pets/ what kind/ name: 1 dog, Kiska, who acts like a horse, but thinks she is part human. She is a Black Labrador/Rottweiler mix. Hobbies: Studying/watching animals (whale watching); camping; exploring new places. Favorite movie: Harry Potter series Favorite Food: Sushi rolls and my homemade applesauce Favorite music: Old-time Rock-n-Roll and Jazz-Fusion Favorite book: “God on a Harley” and “The Celestine Prophecy” Least favorite class in high school / why: Science – Go Figure! All my life, I had a very strong interest in learning about animals. But back then, no one communicated to me that science classes would help me learn about and study animals !!! Most favorite class in high school: Accounting Who or what inspired you to go into teaching: I have always had a personal interest and belief to keep growing and sharing. I chose to initiate this passion in a non-formal manner by going to Hawaii and partnering in the creation of a whale watch business and a whale research foundation. Something my friends would be surprised if they knew this about me: When I was 27 years old, I quit my very successful career and went to Hawaii with a duffle bag and “boom box” to study whales.

Timothy W. Ault Birth place: Canton, Ohio High school: Canton McKinley College: The University of Toledo Title: Geographic Research Associate Residence (State): Ohio Spouse/Partner in Life: none Children: none Person you most admire: JFK Pets/ what kind/ name: Ditzy - cat Hobbies: Singing, Cycling, and collecting hobbies. Favorite Food: Indian. Favorite music: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention Favorite book: The Lord of the Rings Least favorite class in high school / why: Government & Economics. I had horrible (lazy) teachers. Most favorite class in high school: Jazz Band Who or what inspired you to go into a science-related field or teaching: My parents. They have always nurtured my curiosity about the world by taking me to the library, buying me road atlases, giving me music lessons, and helping me buy my first computer at age 11. Something my friends would be surprised if they knew this about me: I never took any Geography courses until my last year as an undergraduate in Theater.

Jackie Kane Birth place Bangor, Maine High school Amherst HS, Amherst, MA College Baldwin-Wallace College Title Physics and Geoscience Teacher Residence (City/State): Toledo, OH Married to/ name of spouse John Children Mike, Jeff, Dan, Person you most admire My husband, John Pets/ what kind/ name Beagle, named Check Hobbies Remote Sensing Favorite movie Space Camp Favorite Food Pistachio Ice cream Favorite music Modern Christian Music Favorite book Left Behind Series, A Wrinkle in Time Least favorite class in high school / why Latin/ Poor teaching Most favorite class in high school Shop Who or what inspired you to go into teaching College English Teacher Something my friends would be surprised if they knew this about me Of all the places on Earth I would like to be, it would be above timberline

Jason D. Witter Birth place: Pensacola, Florida High school: Bayonne High School, Bayonne, NJ College: University of Toledo Earth, Ecological, And Environmental Sciences Title: Geology Graduate Student Residence (State): Ohio Person you most admire: Father Hobbies: The outdoors in general, woodworking Favorite movie: Last of the Mohicans Favorite Food: Mexican, Italian Favorite music: Jam Band, Grunge Rock Least favorite class in high school / why: Algebra, just could not foresee its uses Most favorite class in high school: History Who or what inspired you to go into a science-related field or teaching: Community College Biology Professor, and the necessity not to work in a cubicle Something my friends would be surprised if they knew this about me: I am an Eagle Scout

Takelia Bragg Birth place: Ohio High school: Jesup W Scott High School College: University of Toledo Title: Undergraduate Research Assistant Person you most admire: My mother Pets/ what kind/ name: I have a cat, but I’m not going to tell you his name. I will tell you that it starts with the letter S, has two syllables, and ends with the letter D. My cat was also name after a famous sailor. Hobbies: My hobbies are drawing, writing, cooking, and swimming, although I’m not very good at swimming. I often try to play an instrument every now and then. Favorite movie: I love so many movies I cannot pick just one. But, my favorite types of movies are cartoon movies. I never get tired of watching cartoons. Favorite Food: Medium rib-eye steak with homemade mashed potatoes and beef gravy on the side. Favorite music: Classical / acoustic / R&B / Rock / All sorts of music anything with an instrument. Favorite book: “The Skin I’m In” by Sharon G. Flake Least favorite class in high school / why: Home Economics, because we never made anything worth eating. Most favorite class in high school: Biology, and of course, Art class. Who or what inspired you to go into a science-related field or teaching: My third grade teacher Miss Rodriguez. I guess her love for science rubbed off on me. I remember that we always did exciting stuff. At the end of the school year, I had all kinds of pets, including two snails and an Africa Water Frog, that I kept for years.