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Great Lakes Center, SAMC 319
SUNY Buffalo State
1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, NY 14222
wnyprism@buffalostate.edu
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Dr. Christopher Pennuto, Director
Dr. Christopher Pennuto is a professor of biology with SUNY Buffalo State and Director of WNY PRISM. He has had a 25-year career in aquatic ecology and invasive species research with over 30 publications and $6.75 million in external funding. Chris is passionate about stream ecosystem functioning and loves doing insect identifications. His recent invasive species research investigates round goby impacts in lake and stream ecosystems with a focus on behavior-mediated direct and indirect effects.
Contact: pennutcm@buffalostate.edu
Andrea Locke, Coordinator
Andrea Locke started as WNY PRISM Coordinator in January 2014, as the first full-time employee of WNY PRISM. Prior to working for WNY PRISM, Andrea worked for The Nature Conservancy, on a large scale, high diversity prairie restoration in Northwest Indiana and for Huron Pines in northern Michigan, where she coordinated a partnership network focused on working with private landowners in order to help implement stewardship on their lands. Andrea completed her studies at the University of New Hampshire.
Contact: lockeas@buffalostate.edu
Rachel Taylor, Community Science & Engagement Program Manager
Rachel Taylor joined WNY PRISM in October 2022 as the Community Science and Engagement Program Manager. Prior to this, Rachel worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where she oversaw and implemented wildlife and habitat management programs in the Everglades. She also worked with the USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, where she assisted with biological control research. Rachel received a M.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Zurich. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a focus on Environmental Education and a B.S. in Psychology from the University at Buffalo.
Contact: taylorrm@buffalostate.edu
Nick Farese, Aquatic Program Manager
Nick Farese started with WNY PRISM in April 2024 as the Aquatic Program Manager. Prior to this, he was studying the diet of Lake Trout from Otsego Lake using stomach content, biochemical, and isotopic tracers as part of his graduate work with SUNY Brockport. He also worked for nearly four years on a variety of fish population monitoring projects within Lake Ontario as a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Technician. Nick completed his undergraduate work at SUNY Brockport and is currently finishing up his M.S. in Environmental Science from the same institution.
Contact: faresenv@buffalostate.edu
Cat Eaton, Field Crew Leader
Cat started with WNY PRISM in March 2025 as the Field Crew Leader. Prior to this Cat worked for the National Park Service as a seasonal biological science technician in places like Zion National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Teton National Park, where they specialized in greenhouse management, native plant restoration and invasive plant removal. She also worked in southern Utah working for American Conservation Experience (ACE) performing a variety of tasks including invasive species removal, forest thinning, and trail-building. Cat graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
Contact: eatonc@buffalostate.edu