Meet our Outreach Team
Alexandra Hayes
PAROC Outreach Director
EMAIL: agentry1@emporia.edu
My name is Alexandra Hayes, and I am the Outreach Director here at the PAROC!
I graduated from Emporia State University with my BSE in Biology and Earth Science Education. In this job, I am able to help educators of all kinds, help the environment, and help the future generations grow an appreciation for science and nature. I am proud and honored to continue my passion for education and science by being here at ESU and I look forward to growing PAROC by collaborating with the community.
In my spare time, I enjoy taking my very energetic dogs for long hikes as well as reading novels cozied up under a blanket.
Elizabeth Murdock
PAROC Graduate Assistant
Hello! My name is Elizabeth “Lizzy” Murdock, and I am the graduate assistant at the PAROC. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Biodiversity with a minor in art from Emporia State in December of 2023. I am so excited to be a part of the PAROC team to help mold the minds of young scientists and educate people of all ages on our natural resources.
In my free time, I enjoy playing with my son outside and reading. I am also interested in scientific illustration, spending some of my free time drawing/painting the plants and animals around me.
Grace Higgins
Hello! I'm Grace, and I am a junior studying Biology Education at Emporia State.
I love working at PAROC because I get to share my love for science with the community in fun and creative ways. I am passionate about the natural world and teaching kids to appreciate and care for it.
I enjoy growing my teaching and planning skills through our activities at PAROC too. In my free time, I enjoy crafting, hiking, reading, and cooking.
Cadence Butler
Hello! I am a Freshman studying Biology, concentrating on Fish and Wildlife, at Emporia State University!
Working at PAROC allows me to get hands-on experience I would not be able to get elsewhere. At the PAROC I can constantly learn something new, whether it be a new skill or a new fact. Plus, the events that the PAROC holds align with my values of compassion and kindness. I love being able to work with people of all ages and backgrounds. I look forward to learning more about what most would disregard and deem simple.
Apart from time spent in classes and studying, I am in the Marching Band and work at DQ. In my free time I love to read, hike, and eat good food.
Laura Budke
Hello! My name is Laura Budke, and I am currently an undergraduate here at Emporia State studying Biology with a concentration in Zoology!
I love wildlife and everything outdoors and I have such a passion for the conservation of our natural world! I would love to work with endangered species conservation someday. At PAROC, my goal is to educate the community on how important and amazing our natural environment is! Outside of PAROC, I love to go on hikes, bake lots of yummy desserts, and read historical fiction books.
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Aki Poersch
Hi! My name is Aki Poersch, I’m a freshman here at ESU and I’m studying Ecology and Biodiversity as well as minoring in art.
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I’m excited to work at PAROC because I’m getting experience and opportunities that will help me further my knowledge and career. I love how the different variety of events that PAROC holds allow me to have many distinct experiences and meet lots of new people. I’ve always had a love for nature and anything related to it so I’m very grateful to be apart of the PAROC team.
Outside of work and school I love to paint, garden, hike, kayak, and do anything outdoors!
Charlee Bitler
Hello! My name is Charlee Bitler, and I am a Biology Education Student at ESU.
This is my first year here and I love it already!
I love exploring the outdoors, which makes me super excited to be working at PAROC. One of the most exciting things I will get to do at PAROC is teach others to learn to love the outdoors as much as I do. I'm also ready to learn how to improve both my teaching and science skills. When I'm not at PAROC, I love to hang out with friends, hang out with pets, watch movies, and go fishing!
Daphne Mayes
STEM Outreach Director
EMAIL: dmayes1@emporia.edu
Greetings! I am Daphne Mayes, the STEM Outreach Director.
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I love this job because it brings together many of my interests, experiences, and passions- including environmental conservation, biology, ecology, education, outreach, and community engagement for all! I am excited to be part of the pioneering phase of PAROC, growing our outreach programming and meeting many incredibly inspiring people along the way. In addition to my role at PAROC, I recently became co-editor of the Kansas School Naturalist. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and teaching my boys about nature.
