DHP Summer Counselors
Discovery Hall Programs could not operate its summer camps without its incredible staff of counselors.
Our counselors are the backbone of our programs; they provide care, support, and supervision for our overnight campers. They have fun doing activities alongside campers, enjoy games and downtime in the dorms, and are our caregivers when campers get hurt or sick while away from home. Along with having fun, they are also our rule enforcers. Counselors ensure campers are drinking enough water, applying sunscreen, eating enough to fuel them through hot, busy days, getting along with fellow campers, and obeying all rules and safety standards associated with the camp.
DHP Counselors are CPR and First Aid certified, and have undergone background checks, ensuring the safety of your campers while they visit and explore the Alabama coast and ocean with us. Many of our counselors are classroom teachers with many years of experience working with children.
Marty Dunn, Counselor Emeritus
Marty Dunn served as head counselor for Discovery Hall Summer Programs for more than two decades. His work with DHP’s summer camps were an important part of the camps’ success and has impacted thousands of young people over the years. His compassion for students, his enjoyment of all things ocean-related and his dedication to the Sea Lab will forever be appreciated.
Ashley Allen
Ashley teaches science at Oneonta High School in Oneonta, AL and has attended numerous workshops at the Sea Lab in the past. When not teaching science, Ashley can be found across the state searching for fossils with the Alabama Paleontological Society or exploring Alabama's caves. His interest in our past is rooted in his experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student at Livingston University (now the University of West Alabama).
Angela Drown
Angela lives in Enterprise, Alabama and has taught various elementary grades for 12 years. This year she is teaching 3rd-6th grade gifted students. Angela received her Bachelor's degree in elementary education and Master's degree in gifted education from Troy University. She has three children and one grandchild and loves to garden and bake (not at the same time).
Linda Hankins
Linda was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, but moved to Baldwin County in 1993. She was a media specialist for 22 years with the Baldwin County school system. She has been a counselor at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab since 2019 and absolutely loves it!
Mandy Haston
Mandy teaches high school science and lives in North Alabama with her husband and three kids. She was first at DISL in 1998 while getting her Bachelor's degree in Marine Biology from Auburn University. Mandy has a Master's degree in Secondary Education in Biology and when all her kids graduated from high school she decided she would return to Dauphin Island to spend her summer doing what she loves to do most.
Myra Hicks
Myra is from Abbeville, Alabama. She recently joined The ATTA Library of S.T.E.M. & History in Abbeville as their Archivist and STEM Specialist. She is newly retired from teaching after 21 years. She taught 8th grade Physical Science her first 13 years in Eufaula, Alabama and finished her last eight years as the PLTW Pre-Engineering teacher at Dothan Tech in Dothan, Alabama. Her hobbies include deer hunting, reading, traveling, and anything techy. This will be Myra’s fourth summer as a counselor at DISL.
Kate Mann
Kate first came to DISL as a student 20 years ago! She then began bringing her own students down on field trips. Her first trip with them was the week of the BP oil spill in 2010. Kate has been a DISL counselor for several years and a middle school science teacher for 16 years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and MEd from Auburn University and EdS in teacher leadership from the University of Montevallo.
Victoria Pendley
Vicki has been a camp counselor at the Sea Lab since 2013 and loves it! She teaches gifted students in Baldwin County, Alabama. She holds a Master's Degree in Gifted Education. "I wish for..... learning to be like the world: busy, chaotic, and always in motion. Every learner to be part of our community. Learning to come from experiences. Creativity to be a habit. Mistakes to be viewed as opportunities. The freedom for learners to explore, discover & develop." Let's have fun together at The Dauphin Island Sea Lab!
John David Phillips
This is John David’s third year as a camp counselor at DISL! He loves learning alongside the campers and getting to know everyone at DISL! His favorite camp activity is the boat ride on the Discovery!
Elaine Piazza
Abby is a first time counselor who in her high school years participated in bay voyager camps and was a part of the first high school marine science summer course! She recently graduated from Texas A&M University and is pursuing her Masters at Dallas Theological Seminary! Her family has a house on Dauphin Island and has been a lifelong friend of the DISL and loves to share knowledge of the island and sea life!
Lisa Richie
Lisa was born and raised in Calhoun County, Alabama and moved to Birmingham in 1990. She received a B.A. and a Master's in Elementary Education from the University of Montevallo. She began coming to the "Sunset Capital" in 1985. Lisa has been a counselor with DHP since 2017 and enjoys every minute of it! She has two children and one grandson, all who she introduced the wonders of Dauphin Island when they were young.
Rissa Stephens
Rissa currently spends time homeschooling her grandchildren, working as an evaluator for a major online university, and traveling after spending 26 years teaching fifth and sixth grades. She holds a specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Alabama, but she says, "War Eagle"!!!
Carlyn Stinson
Carlyn fell in love with the DISL program when she visited with her daughter's gifted class in 2012. Carlyn earned a Bachelor's degree in Child Psychology and a Master's Degree in Secondary Language Arts. She teaches 7th-12th grade English at Billingsley High School. Prior to teaching, she worked for the YMCA as a Director of Children's programs, including weekends at Camp Cha-La-Kee. Carlyn has 3 children, a house full of pets, and loves to travel, read, and hike.
Andrew McKibbin
Andrew has always loved Marine science. He took his first trip to the sea lab for Gulf Island Journey Camp back in 2014 and in 2017 participated in the Residential Marine Science Class. He graduated with a degree in General Science Education from Auburn University. War Eagle! He currently passes on his love for Marine Biology by teaching High school Marine Science in Madison AL. He also coaches High school Co-ed Swim as well as Boys Soccer. He recently got married and has lots of pets, his favorite of which is his cat named Goose!