DNS Staff Members

Meet Our Executive Director

Michael E. Riska began his career with the Delaware Nature Society in 1967 as a part-time instructor and filled the positions of youth programs director and assistant director through 1984. Since then, Mike has held the position of Executive Director. Prior to his employment with the Delaware Nature Society, he taught science to 1st through 8th graders at the Tatnall School and eight 5-week upper school marine ecology courses based on Sanibal Island, Florida. Mike attended West Chester University of Pennsylvania and earned a B.S. with a double major in Biology and Physical Education. He was certified in Delaware as a teacher in biology, general science, health, and physical education. He also earned a M. ED. in Natural Science from the University of Delaware in 1973. He was awarded the Nature Conservancy Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award in 1997, an Exceptional Leadership Award from Association of Nature Center Administrators' Board of Directors in 1999 and the 1999 President's Award of Association of Nature Center Administrators for dedication and service to the nature center profession. The Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA) recognized him as the recipient of its 2002 Leadership Award. Click to E-mail

Meet Our Associate Directors

Helen Fischel joined the Delaware Nature Society education department in 1980. Her undergraduate degree is a BS in Elementary Education from University of Delaware and she holds a MS in Education from Widener University. Helen oversees the education department staff at all sites (Ashland Nature Center, Abbotts Mill Nature Center, Coverdale Farm, DuPont Environmental Education Center) and coordinates the 21 credits worth of classes through the University of Delaware. Look for her each season on the trail teaching 1.5 yr old to teachers programs. Click to E-mail


Linda Chambers holds a B.S. in Communications and a M.Ed. in Sports/Recreation Administration, both from Temple University in Philadelphia. She began her career in Development at West Chester University of Pennsylvania as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving. She then transitioned to the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley (Chester County, Pennsylvania) as the Assistant Director of Development overseeing the Phonathon, coordinating annual fundraising dinners and grant writing. She joined the staff of the Delaware Nature Society in October of 2005 as Annual Giving Coordinator and moved into her current position in June of 2007. Linda oversees aspects of fund development including Membership, Annual Giving, Capital Development, Planned Giving (Monarch Legacy Society) and Grant Writing. Linda also manages the volunteer coordination and Society-wide marketing/public relations areas. Click to E-mail

Ginger North is currently serving as the Interim Associate Director for Natural Resources Conservation, but she has been managing Delaware Nature Society's Citizen Science programs since 1995. She received a Master of Science degree in Genetics from the University of Delaware, and Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Marine Biology from the University of Long Island. She taught biology laboratories for four years at the University of Delaware. She also has an extensive background in Quality Control, both in a clinical microbiology laboratory and in a hospital endocrinology laboratory.
Click to E-mail

David Toman joined the Delaware Nature Society in August 2001 as a result of his mother's suggestion to respond to an employment advertisement for a job combining his love of nature and the outdoors with his accounting and business experience. David is the Associate Director of Business and Finance and is also responsible for Human Resources. He earned his accounting degree from Widener University and has specialized in non-profits working both in public accounting and as a non-profit business manager. Earlier experiences include managing a retail camping department and a resort real estate rental program in the mountains of West Virginia. David's life-long hobbies of camping, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking and cross-country skiing have proved to be an asset that has allowed him to lead members' trips for DNS. He has enjoyed canoeing Prime Hook and Dragon Run, and skiing the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge with fellow DNS members. Click to E-mail

Jim White has worked at the Delaware Nature Society since 1982. Currently he is the Associate Director for Land and Biodiversity Management overseeing the society's land and facilities. A native Delawarean, he graduated from the Salesianum high school and the University of Delaware. Jim's natural history interests include birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles. He teaches herpetology at the Delaware Nature Society and with his wife has published a field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the Delmarva Peninsula. Jim also leads natural history trips to many natural areas in the US and in Central and South America. He is married and has two boys. Click to E-mail

Meet Our Staff Members