Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Loveland, Colorado. After that, I lived in Honolulu, Washington, D.C., and Washington state.
Where did you go to school and in what subject did you get your degree(s)?
I started college at Colorado State University, majoring in Technical Journalism, but I graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. (Studying on the beach sounded much better!). I have a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies.
How did you come to work at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center?
I started working at the science center in March 2021, but I have been with NOAA for almost 20 years. While I was in school in Honolulu, I had an internship with NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. After graduating,
I started working for the sanctuary as a contractor coordinating their sanctuary advisory council. I then took a position with Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument when it was created.
Those experiences led me to a federal position as a public affairs officer for NOAA headquarters. Most recently I worked for the state of Washington as a communications manager. When the communications manager position opened at the science center, I knew it was a good opportunity to come back to NOAA and again focus on marine science communications.
What do you do at the science center?
As the communications manager for the science center, I get the opportunity to tell people about the important work that the science center team does. Some days that means working with news media, some days it means creating web content and (shameless plug) writing our newsletter, Sea Notes. I’m always looking for ways to show the value of the center’s science.
What do you like most about your position?
One of the most important things for me in any job is working with good people. I definitely get to do that at the science center. I also like that I get to share our science, which is important to people’s lives and livelihoods—but is also really cool!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I really like to travel, especially to spend time with friends and family or to find a beach. I have been to all 50 states! While the pandemic has slowed this down, I still have been able to do some exploring around the Pacific Northwest—usually with my dog, Kona.
