Coastal Resiliency Specialist
NC Division of Coastal Management
Morehead City, North Carolina
(November 2022 - Present)
Responsibilities:
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Jointly administers a competitive grants program that offers technical assistance for communities to increase their adaptive capacity and resilience to coastal hazards.
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Drafts and issues Requests for Applications, communicates with potential applicants, and coordinates the review and selection of applications.
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Administers grant contracts with service providers (i.e., environmental contracting firms), including contract execution, invoicing and payments, budgeting, progress tracking, reporting, and amendments.
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Coordinates technical assistance for vulnerability assessments and mitigation planning, public outreach and engagement, and supports local coastal communities’ information and service needs.
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Coordinates training workshops and orientations for service providers and participating communities.
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Supports program partners, such as environmental agencies, local governments, NGOs, academia, and private sector entities, on efforts and funding to advance coastal hazard resilience.
I currently work for the Division of Coastal Management in North Carolina, where I help to oversee the Resilient Coastal Communities Program. This grant program provides funding opportunities to the communities that need it most, helping them to build capacity through unique resilience projects aimed at addressing the coastal hazards that most affect them.
Conservation Projects Manager
Haiti Ocean Conservancy
Cap-Haïtien, Haiti
(June 2019 - October 2019)
Responsibilities:
• Coordinator of all restoration fieldwork activities
• Supervisor for all scientific research undertaken by Conservancy staff and volunteers
• Assistant hiring manager for Coral Restoration Interns
• Liaison for project stakeholders and immediate point-of-contact for partner organizations
• Site administrator, including supply inventory, accounting and record-keeping
• Educational snorkeling and kayaking guide
Working for the Haiti Ocean Conservancy was a fantastic opportunity which inspired me to learn more about coastal management and conservation governance. This small non-profit in the heart of the Caribbean aims to improve the lives of local fisherman while restoring the coral reef ecosystem which many of them rely upon. This position allowed me to build valuable project management experience, while taking a leading role in the design and implementation of new coral restoration projects.
However, some of my favorite tasks were planning workshops with visiting organizations and interacting with local business owners. I hope to continue contributing to the success of communities like these by telling their unique and exciting stories.
Communications Program Intern
Coral Restoration Foundation
Key Largo, Florida (USA)
(May 2018 - May 2019)
Responsibilities:
• Completed graphic design, marketing, and communications projects
• Oversaw the online production and layout of official monthly newsletters
• Designed webpage templates, event banners, and promotional content
• Coordinated a monthly giving campaign to encourage recurring donorship
• Organized public education and outreach events with collaborators
• Conducted educational presentations to universities and organizations
• Interacted with volunteers on-land, at-sea, and in the water
Organizer & Graphic Designer
Coral Restoration Foundation assisting NOAA
Key Largo, Florida (USA)
(October 2018)
Responsibilities:
• Assisted N.O.A.A. in planning and preparation for Reef Futures 2018
• Digitally designed signage, banners, and distributable materials for 500+ attendees
While I was working in Florida as the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) Communications Program Intern, I discovered a creative outlet that inspired me to take a multifaceted approach to conservation and education. I am proficient in using a wide array of programs to produce creative content and bolster social media interaction. Using the Adobe Suite, I produced infographics, distributable flyers, and event banners for publication. These collaterals included a collaboration with NOAA at the 2018 Reef Futures Conference, the first worldwide restoration symposium of its kind. I exclusively managed the social media calendar, scheduling campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, while utilizing analytics to connect with broader audiences. I also produced and edited weekly newsletters using Mailchimp, which reached an audience of over 7,000 people. Because so many of these responsibilities were interlinked with the CRF website, I consistently used Wix to add blog posts, customize design elements, and update web pages to better captivate new audience members with compelling content.
Lead Coral Restoration Intern
Coral Restoration Foundation
Key Largo, Florida (USA)
(May 2018 - May 2019)
Responsibilities:
• Completed benthic surveys and coral reef monitoring projects
• Prepared and executed complex dive plans involving endangered species
• Assisted in coral nursery maintenance and installation
• Prepared and accomplished detailed dive plans under variable conditions
• Responsible for dive preparation and equipment breakdown
• Directly interviewed, selected, and managed new program interns
• Responsible for daily boat preparation and dive equipment breakdown
• Maintained safe boating procedures
Marine Conservation & Divemaster Intern
Reef Doctor
Ifaty, Madagascar
(May 2018 - May 2019)
Responsibilities:
• Certified as PADI Divemaster (#401888)
• Supervised fish counts, invertebrate monitoring, and benthic mapping dives
• Participated in coral propagule transplantation and nursery maintenance
• Designed, built, and implemented artificial reef structures
• Assisted in community mangrove reforestation initiatives and aquaculture production
• Conducted educational presentations for visiting NGOs and researchers
• Researched the health and sustainability of local marine habitats and fisheries
While working in Madagascar, I truly discovered my passion for diving and marine conservation. Through Reef Doctor's commitment to community education and the creation of alternative livelihoods, I was able to help to improve local support for critical marine protected areas. In turn, this allowed recovery time for important fish species and established a workspace for coral restoration projects. Today these communities are experiencing the positive, compounding effects of sustainably managed ocean resources.