Dale Casamatta, associate professor of biology at the University of North Florida, has named 15 species. The first species he named was after the creator of Dungeons and Dragons, Gary Gygax.

His favorite species, though, is a parasite that lives on buffalo. It causes ants to go insane so they want to be eaten.

“I like that I get a chance to do something novel and get to explore things that no one else has explored before,” says the sci-fi and fantasy fan. “Once you name something, your name is with that until the end time.”

Dale originally planned on becoming a paleontologist, but the first time he worked with a microscope, he realized he was far more interested in mic–robes. This eventually led him to earn his doctorate, and he has now been teaching biology and micro-limnology (fresh water ecology) at UNF for five years.

“I really like evolution and understanding how things are related to each other; I’m very interested in how things came to be,” he said.

Dale grew up on Lake Erie, and now that he lives on the First Coast, he is particularly preoccupied with the St. Johns River. He is dedicated to monitoring the river’s algae levels and studying the effects that native plants might have on its nutrients.

James Moore dresses for the job.

In seventh grade, Tyler had an epiphany on a mission trip working with the hearing impaired community: he thought sign language was the most beautiful language in the world. “It just struck me,” he says. “It’s not a language you listen to, but you’re able to watch whole sentences through a facial expression.” The 24-year-old marketing director for the Independent Living Resource Center of Northeast Florida teaches American Sign Language classes and practices community outreach. “When it comes to sign language, it’s important that there’s inclusion and that the person has equal access to communication. It’s important to make that individual feel comfortable,” he says. Obviously granted a talent for communicating, Tyler is also the vice president of membership of the American Advertising Federation and co-chair of the Mayor’s Disability Council. “The best thing about working with the hearing impaired community is bridging the communication gap.”

Favorite thing about reading skirt!: My sister and I have this unspoken Christmas competition when it comes to presents: I try to get her the most unique piece of jewelry every Christmas, and with skirt! it makes shopping for my sister easier because you get to see all that merchandise and the stores.

Teaching runs in Julius’s blood: his mother, dad, godfather, godmother, aunt and uncle were all teachers. His grandmother was the first teacher in Duval County to teach a desegregated classroom at Justina Road Elementary School . Julius is an Assistant Professor of Management and has worked at Jacksonville University for the past eight years. “Education has been my life. It’s the cornerstone of my existence,” he says. Teaching management, human resources, leadership and organizational behavior at the college level is his calling. Before working at JU, Julius spent six years as a middle school teacher, a challenging age group to teach, but one that came naturally to him, due to his ability to identify with almost anyone.

After a brief stint writing for his high school newspaper, John, who now works at Principle Creative, served in the military and led a platoon in the Florida National Guard before returning to writing. He became the editor-in-chief of the Jacksonville Business Journal and The Florida Times-Union’s lead political reporter when he realized his intense curiosity in quirky political personalities. In 1995, he wrote a series of articles on the 75^th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement. “It gave me a lot of respect for what took place there,” he says. “I admire people who are willing to step out from the pack.” The former board member of Girls, Inc. is raising his two daughters with his wife, Renee. “I want my daughters to be proud of themselves for their minds; I don’t want them to focus on their looks as their source of self esteem,” he says.

What’s the best thing about reading skirt!?

James Coleman will help bring out your inner athlete.

It’s comforting to know people like Bob Thayer have a sense of goodwill. Bob began volunteering as a board member with Chicago’s Goodwill in 1985 and has been the CEO of Jacksonville’s Goodwill for the past thirteen years.  Fresh out of college, he worked as a math teacher and a basketball coach for seven years before making the switch to non-profit work.

“I’m a feminist because…women are emotionally stronger. Women deal with their feelings and that builds strength and character. A feminist is anyone who fights for the rights of women. My mother is very strong-willed and opinionated, but also supportive of everybody regardless of race or gender, and she has instilled that in me.”

“I’m a feminist because…women contribute so much to our society and to everyday life. I’d hate to think of the world without them.”

James is the first man to be president of the board of Jacksonville’s Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. He grew up as a boy scout, but was drawn recently to the impact that Girl Scouts had on the community. “Although there are many male volunteers at the troop levels, there weren’t many men supporting the organization at the board level,” he says.

Richard also cooks better than his father, who butchers his own meat. Deciding on his destiny before he learned to drive, he is now the Chef de Cuisine of Salt at the Ritz Carlton on AmeliaIsland.

Tri Vu lights up Jacksonville.

There are not many passengers who can make the rush hour commute entertaining besides Josh, a.k.a. “Klinger” on rock station Planet Radio107.3. On his afternoon show, Road Rage, Klinger takes commuter complaints and steers drivers away from vengefully clipping taillights. Because he has such a “great gig,” Klinger never really has an awful day at work. He enjoys when listeners call in with their two cents, even if it’s unflattering.

Adam Papas, Juan Diaz, and Ricky Caplin can throw a classy party. They are three of the fourteen Guys with Ties of Jacksonville, a philanthropic organization founded in January devoted to helping local charities fundraise through events. These gentlemen are responsible for The White Party in August, benefiting the Donna Hicken Foundation, an organization that helps women through financial struggles associated with breast cancer treatment. It was only their first event and it attracted over 600 party-going do-gooders.