Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center announces the hiring of Sherman resident, Chad Seewagen, Ph.D. as the non-profit organization’s first Executive Director. Dr. Seewagen holds graduate degrees in Biology and Conservation Biology, and joins Great Hollow with more than 10 years of professional experience that spans academia, non-governmental conservation organizations, and the environmental consulting industry. “I am thrilled to have this unique opportunity to help develop Great Hollow into a leading environmental education and research center, and a treasured recreational resource for our local communities”, said Dr. Seewagen. “In the coming months and years, our goals are to build experiential education programs for youth of all ages, offer workshops and other community engagement events, and conduct collaborative scientific research both within and beyond our 825 acre preserve in New Fairfield and Sherman.” Dr. Seewagen’s primary research interest and area of expertise is ornithology, and he looks forward to Great Hollow being a leader in the study and protection of Connecticut’s birds. Upcoming scheduled events for the public include a lecture on the black bears of Connecticut on May 21^st, a spring migration birding walk and bird banding demonstration on May 28^th, a caterpillar research project for citizen scientists on June 12^th, and a nature photography workshop on June 18^th. On Tuesday, June 14^th, Dr. Seewagen will kick off Great Hollow’s Monthly Seminar Series with a presentation on some of his previous research on migratory birds, followed by an overview of the vision for the Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center. More information on Great Hollow can be found at www.greathollowct.org.