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Museum Staff Spotlight: Nathan Prine, Environmental/Natural Resources Technician
Nathan Prine, Environmental/Natural Resources Technician, brings his lifelong love of wildlife full circle at the Museum. Whether he’s freediving for mussels, cataloging new fish specimens, or prepping for a regional ichthyology conference, Nathan is all-in when it comes to science and conservation. And to think - it all started with visits to the Museum as a kid.
Read how his early curiosity turned into a career he’s proud of, and why he says working with federally threatened and petitioned species is a dream come true.
Rockell "Rock" Ingram, MMNSF Board of Directors
Meet Rock Ingram: Leader, Volunteer, and Proud Museum Dad
From serving our country overseas to serving up curiosity at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Rockell “Rock” Ingram brings heart, leadership, and dedication to everything he does. As a proud Mississippi native, veteran, and STEM professional, Rock uses his talents to support the next generation - whether he’s mentoring through energy industry organizations, helping families with their finances, or operating the Museum’s mechanical dinosaur alongside his son, Christian.
We're proud to have Rock as a valued member of the MMNS Foundation Board. His passion for education, service, and science shines through in every way he gives back.
Read more about Rock’s story and impact.
Chris Zachow, Treasurer, MMNSF Board of Directors
Few people embody a lifelong love of museums quite like Chris Zachow. From her childhood trips to the Smithsonian with her father to her decades of leadership with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Foundation, Chris has spent her life surrounded by wonder, discovery, and learning.
Museum Staff Spotlight: Tom Mann, Zoologist, MS Natural Heritage Program
For 35 years, Tom Mann, Zoologist with the Mississippi Natural Heritage Program, has been on a mission to protect some of Mississippi’s most unique creatures - from salamanders and snakes to tortoises and rare sandhill plants.
Whether he’s rescuing amphibians on a rainy night, tracking endangered species, or mentoring the next generation of biologists, Tom’s passion for conservation runs deep. In this Staff Spotlight, he shares stories from the field, reflections on a lifetime of science and stewardship, and why he believes protecting nature begins with curiosity and care.