Meet the Team

Carmen Rodriguez, Executive Director

Carmen Rodriguez joined the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) in 2022 and is responsible for operations, education, and conservation initiatives at the center. This includes overseeing staff, all collection animals, education programs, and liaising with university, county, and community partners associated with the MEEC.

Carmen comes to us with an array of skills and capabilities that she has accumulated through her professional career. Born in Lima, Peru she was always driven by an innate love for nature, the ocean, and all animals. She decided to become a marine biologist when she was 15, thanks to the guidance of her dad. She moved to the US when she was 18 and enrolled at NSU to pursue her career. Under the guidance of professors such as Dr. Messing, Dr. Keith, Dr. Hirons, and others she was able to build up knowledge on manatee health assessments, deep sea corals, stable isotope analysis on marine mammals, and her favorite, field work.

After graduating in 2011, she was eager to find her path and make a difference in her community. That was a very meandering path. While she was reporting to work 5 days a week as a museum coordinator, her weekend and holiday job was to be a sea turtle surveyor with the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program. She didn’t know it at the time, but those 12 hours shifts on the beach when you have 200 new nests to mark, 100 nests to excavate, and 102°F heat index to fight, will teach you about resilience. Later, she moved on to work for FAU’s Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, where she learned a lot about the Everglades, apple snails, and native orchids. Carmen led the orchid propagation lab and expanded their reach to growing over 14 different species of native orchids for restoration purposes by collaborating with county, state, and federal agencies. To further develop her accomplishments on sea turtle education, Carmen was recruited to be the Marine Permit Holder for the Museum of Discovery and Science and lead their Turtle Walks.

Now, as the MEEC’s Executive Director, Carmen bridges all prior professional roles (as well as travel and interests), to developing new and exciting ways to serve its parent organizations (Broward County and Nova Southeastern University) as well as South Floridians, visitors from around the world, and its staff, interns, and volunteers that she dutifully leads daily.

Melanie Cardenas, Animal Care Manager

Melanie Cardenas joined the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) in 2023 and is responsible for managing animal care operations and volunteers. This includes caring for the two resident sea turtles, 3 other ambassador turtles, supervising all water management and life support systems, and interviewing/onboarding all interns and volunteers at the MEEC.

She utilized this academic experience to initiate a career in animal husbandry. First at Frost Science as an aquarist volunteer and later at Zoo Miami as an intern, Melanie worked on special conservation projects that included the Orinoco crocodile and Puerto Rican crested toad. Moving onward to Fort Lauderdale, Melanie’s next forward steps took her to the Museum of Discovery and Science before joining the MEEC as its Animal Care and Volunteer Manager. Outside of the MEEC, she continues her professional development as a member of Minorities in Shark Sciences.

Melanie graduated from FIU with a B.A in Natural and Applied Sciences and a minor in Marine Biology. She also earned a certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Florida Atlantic University in 2021. 

Natalie Panzo, Education Specialist

Natalie Panzo joined the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) in 2025 and is responsible for facilitating learning programs, developing curriculum, guiding social media, and supervising education interns.

Her passion for marine biology began during her childhood in Tampa Bay, Florida. Surrounded by diverse ocean life and access to some of the state’s leading facilities, Natalie developed a deep appreciation for the ocean and its ecosystems. This led her to pursuing her B.S. of Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University. After graduating, Natalie joined the non-profit world as an Outreach Coordinator for the South Florida Wildlife Center. She gained extensive experience working in environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, and community outreach, with roles ranging from hands-on animal care to program development and public engagement. As a lifelong member of Girl Scouts of America, Natalie also works directly with local scout troops and councils for MEEC program partnerships. 

Through these opportunities, Natalie has strengthened her skills in communications, program delivery, and conservation advocacy, and remains dedicated to combining science and education to make a positive impact at the MEEC.

Angelina Scala-Nunez, Retail Associate

Angelina Scala-Nunez joined the Marine Environmental Education Center (MEEC) in 2025 and is responsible for retail operations. This includes daily sales, operations, and expanding inventory to better serve guests. She also works with the center’s animal care team.

Growing up along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Angelina was inspired by the beauty of Florida’s dynamic ecosystems and understood their fragility (even from a younger age). Hence began her journey of studying the fragility of marine environments at Florida Atlantic University earning a B.S. in Biological Sciences. This led to initial experiences dedicated to giving back to the community through volunteering with nonprofits and working directly with animals.

These experiences have allowed her to contribute to conservation efforts, support wildlife care, and engage with initiatives that truly make a difference as Angelina sets the foundation for an exciting career!