Staff
Jeffrey Glassberg is the driving force behind the butterflying revolution. Due to his efforts, large numbers of Americans are now beginning, for the first time, to view butterflies as wildlife. Dr. Glassberg has followed butterflies since he was 5 years old. He obtained a B.S. degree in civil engineering from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Rice University, then conducted research at Stanford University Medical School with Nobel Laureate Arthur Kornberg. In 1981, while at Rockefeller University, he invented DNA fingerprinting, and co-founded a biotechnology company (Lifecodes Corporation), that commercialized this technique and taught the F.B.I. how to use it.
Dr. Glassberg is the founder and president of the North American Butterfly Association and a past president of Xerces Society. He is the editor of American Butterflies magazine, and the author of nine books, including A Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America. Dr. Glassberg graduated from the Columbia University School of Law in 1993, and is a member of the New York Bar. He is an Adjunct Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Rice University.
Jim Springer is a director and vice-president of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) who is also responsible for the NABA and North Jersey Butterfly Club websites as well as the NABA Butterfly Count and Butterflies I’ve Seen databases. He has been interested in many aspects of natural history ever since growing up on the Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland. Following a Ph.D. in physical chemistry where he studied the 3-D structures of various naturally occurring toxins including saxitoxin, one of the principal components responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning, Jim spent a career as a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. While he chased all kinds of insects as a kid, a more serious interest in butterflies was rekindled about 25 years ago. He spends as much time as he can in the warmer months either studying and photographing butterflies in New Jersey, the U.S. and elsewhere or developing a backyard butterfly habitat along with his wife, Nancy. In the winter, his emphasis switches to NABA’s computer-related projects.
Stacy comes to NABA in the wake of dual careers as a Hollywood film producer and presidential campaign operative. She co-founded an arts nonprofit that now has more than 10,000 members, built a housing affordability advocacy organization from the startup stage, and has a lifelong passion for the outdoors and wildlife conservation. When not working to save butterflies, she’s out discovering new places to hike in rural New Jersey.
Laura joined NABA in 2014. Her role involves communicating with members and chapters throughout the country and assisting with the establishment of new chapters. Additionally, she oversees the internal, day-to-day operations of the national organization. Laura enjoys spending time with her family and is passionate about nature, hiking, and cooking.
Mike has been with NABA since 2015, shortly after he moved back to New Jersey with his family. Initially starting with the Butterfly Garden Habitat Program, Mike went on to become the editor of the annual Butterfly Count Report, manage NABA’s technology and coordinate academic research requests, interview members for American Butterflies “We Are NABA” series, and more. Fond of attempting macro photography of butterflies and moths, Mike can often be found managing an ever increasing number of plants in his backyard.