Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School
Malibu Staff Biographies

Jeff Stauffer: As a young boy, I began exploring the southern New Jersey coast in Cape May. There I developed a passion for studying the natural world. Exploring swamps, ponds, rivers, dunes, and ocean tides led to a life-long commitment to studying our fascinating wild planet. I graduated with a BA in Elementary Education from Millersville University in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and have been teaching 5th and 6th graders about the earth for the past fourteen years in a variety of ecosystems. This is my seventh year as an Outdoor Science Teacher with LACOSS, the fourth in Malibu. My scientific interests include zoology, lichenology, geology, entomology, mycology, ornithology, botany, ethnobotany, and stone-age anthropology. In my free time I love traveling the continent, photographing nature, studying dragonflies, snorkeling and swimming in the ocean.

Phil Conley: I grew up just outside of Charleston, West Virginia. As a kid, my favorite activities were mountain biking, fishing, and hiking. I attended Ferrum College, a small school in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where I double majored in Environmental Science and French with a minor in Biology. In college I was able to participate in some field research on Indiana bats and an internship at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Since moving to Los Angeles, I've worked at both the L.A. Zoo and the Aquarium of the Pacific. This is my fourth year at LACOSS.

Abbey Kostura: I was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, but raised in Masontown, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Chatham College in Pittsburgh (Go Steelers) with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in Psychology, and recently earned a teaching credential from the University of Redlands. When not working, I enjoy backpacking, running, juggling, learning and anything else that gives me an excuse to be outside. After spending four years working for LACOSS at the Blue Sky Meadow site, I'm super excited to be here by the beach for my second year at Malibu.

Emily Volz: I grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota. After teaching for several years throughout the Midwest, I finally earned my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education. This is my sixth year with LACOSS, but my first at the Malibu site. I"m super excited about teaching at a new environment. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, cooking delicious meals in my crock-pot, and canoeing.

Brent Anderson: I come from the great state of Wisconsin. While majoring in biology and chemistry, one of my greatest college experiences was studying sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Since graduating I've taught in the outdoors in both Minnesota and North Carolina, and spend summers leading international adventure trips for teenagers. This is my second year with LACOSS, but my first in Malibu, and I'm excited to teach in beautiful Southern California. In my free time I enjoys camping, star-gazing and cooking.

Lisa Idema: I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a family that valued the outdoors. As a child, I spent much time camping and fishing. For college I attended Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. I've always had a passion for learning, so after graduation I started working in environmental education. I began my career in Texas, and a year later moved to the barrier islands of Georgia. I've also enjoyed traveling abroad both for my own leisure and as a research aide in reptile and amphibian ecology. In my months off I can generally be found in my car constantly on the move from place to place. I'm most at home near the ocean, so I am thrilled to be teaching at LACOSS in Malibu.