Staff

Executive Director
Laura Hannan
Laura's background is in finance, working for 20 years in commercial, government and nonprofit lending. She spent time growing up in Fair Hill and has a passion for nature and education. She is a certified yoga teacher and loves spending time with her family and dogs. Laura has her BBA in Finance from James Madison University.

Director of Operations
Amy Sypher
Amy is a life-long Delawarean who earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Delaware in Wildlife Conservation and Ecology. In 2022 she was a seasonal Park Ranger at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, and later took a position at Alapocas Run State Park as their Lead Naturalist. From 2024-2025, she worked at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation as the Assistant Director of Public Programs and Engagement. Amy says "Working at the Fair Hill Nature Center is a homecoming and dream job. Having the opportunity to teach and inspire all ages about the environment is like watching conservation happen in real-time.

Community Outreach Director
Laura Metzler
Laura spent 15 years assisting Cecil County's business community as the manager of the award winning Business Information Center at the Cecil County Public Library. She is an expert at developing community programming and is passionate about conservation. She loves to garden, read, travel and spend time with friends and family. Laura has her BA from Purdue and Masters from Indiana University in Library and Information Sciences.

Lead Educator
Jennifer Altvater
As a certified elementary and special education teacher, Jenn brings over 16 years of teaching experience to her work. In her role as an environmental educator, she has masterfully combined her enthusiasm for teaching and connecting with students with her deep love of the outdoors. Jenn is passionate about making learning joyful by fostering students’ natural curiosity about the world around them.
At Fair Hill Nature Center, Jenn has been instrumental in building community through hands-on, fun, and memorable learning experiences that help cultivate an enduring connection to nature and the environment. Her dedication, creativity, and leadership make her an incredible asset to our education team.
Board of Directors
Dan Schneckenburger, President
Director of Administration, Cecil County Government
April Arnold, Vice President
Owner, True North Risk
Bob Palsgrove, Treasurer
Vice President, WSFS Bank (retired)
Anne Gellrich, Secretary
Executive Director, Cecil County Public Schools (retired)
Kennard Wiggins
Brig. Gen. DE Air National Guard (retired)
Author
Maureen Sentman, Esq.
Sean McCandless
Agricultural Resource Conservation Specialist, MD Dept of Agriculture at Cecil Soil Conservation District
Nicole Walker
Lead Science Teacher, Elkton High, Cecil County Public Schools
Krista Gilmore
Volunteer Program Administrator, Cecil County Department of Community Services
Tom Pahutski
R&D Project and Innovation Manager, FMC, Stine Research Center
Polly Binns
Executive Director, Fair Hill Foundation
