Finn Dooley

Finn originates from the mountains of Colorado, and is now based in Charleston. He is driven by his love of animals and desire to make a positive impact on the world. Bolstered by his background in business administration and finance, Finn joined Turtle Survival Alliance in March of 2024 to assist in finance and data […]

Elena Duran

Elena Duran is a nonprofit & fundraising professional. Motivated by her love for the arts, she received a Master’s Degree in Arts Business from the University of Wisconsin School of Business, Bolz Center for Arts Administration in 2021. Elena has worked on marketing & development teams at major arts organizations in Madison, WI, including the […]

AJ Fetterman

AJ moved from metro Detroit to join the Turtle Survival Center team as a Chelonian Keeper in February of 2023. He has had an appreciation for turtles and tortoises since he was young and has been a supporter of Turtle Survival Alliance for many years. He has spent several years gaining experience in the animal […]

Cole Fleming

Cole has been fascinated by animals and the natural world since he was a child. He joined the TSA in 2024 and is proud to be part of a unique collection of talented people who have made it their mission to save these amazing creatures from extinction. As an esteemed member of the maintenance team he embraces […]

Jordan Gray

Jordan joined Turtle Survival Alliance in February 2017. A native of Virginia, he has lived in numerous American states and abroad, all of which have provided various opportunities for him to cultivate his passion for Chelonians. Involvement with conservation and wildlife research began early for Jordan as he would regularly accompany his father into the […]

Rachael Harff

Rachael Harff first joined Turtle Survival Alliance in 2021 as a Chelonian Keeper at the Turtle Survival Center (TSC). Rachael’s lifelong passion for animals began early. She recalls helping turtles cross roads as a child and eventually earned a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Illinois State University. Her diverse career includes roles at a […]

Pearson McGovern

Pearson is a researcher and turtle ecologist with field experience on 5 continents and in over 20 countries. His primary interests include natural and life history studies, movement ecology, and community engagement. He is a firm advocate for applied conservation and completed a masters thesis dedicated to refining the head-starting formula for Mojave Desert Tortoises. […]

Makayla Peppin-Sherwood

Makayla Peppin-Sherwood has always been passionate about the natural world. From a young age, she could always be found playing in the mud, fishing with her dad, catching garter snakes, or stargazing. This passion led her to pursue a Bachelor’s in Physics with a concentration in Astronomy from the University of Central Florida, which she […]

Carly Sprott

Carly joined the Turtle Survival Center team as a Chelonian Keeper in March 2025. Born and raised in the midlands of South Carolina, she has always enjoyed exploring nature and learning to identify local wildlife. Carly has a passion for helping protect endangered species and a special interest in turtles, having had the chance to observe many Eastern […]