Background

I am driven by a deep and unwavering connection to the ocean. 

My story isn't just about a career, it's about a life forged on the water. 

This is my journey from the docks to the front lines of marine science and policy.

My passion for working in the marine environment was born in Barnstable harbor on Cape Cod, starting in a seafood restaurant kitchen when I was 14, which grew into a hands-on education repairing docks and boats at a marina in Sesuit Harbor in East Dennis. This was no classroom; it was where I learned the grit of a marine life and the hard work that connects us to the sea.

From there, I chased a deeper understanding, earning my degree in Earth and Ocean Sciences from UMass Boston in 2010. I didn't just study the ocean, I lived it while working as a deckhand at UMass deploying research gear, and sharing the wonders of Boston Harbor with the public. I returned to Cape Cod and continued to work at the marina while also ensuring the safety of our beaches by sampling the water at beaches across Cape Cod for the Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment.

My path then led me to the waters of Maine, where I spent a few years on an oyster farm. Through brutal winters and long days, I fertilized oyster eggs in the hatchery and harvested adult oysters from the Damariscotta River, connecting my work directly to the life cycle of the sea. It was a testament to endurance, a reminder that the ocean gives nothing easily.

My hands-on experience became the foundation for a Master's in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island. I earned my way into the program, not on academic papers alone, but on the strength of my practical experience. I didn’t stop there. I went on to work on luxury yachts and commercial fishing vessels immediately after graduation, refusing to lose touch with the working waterfront.

My journey led me to NOAA Fisheries in 2015, where I began as a contract research assistant for the Social Sciences Branch at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Narragansett Laboratory in Rhode Island. That was my first step into a career dedicated to exploring our marine resources. I went on to serve as a fisheries management specialist at the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office's Sustainable Fisheries Division in Gloucester, MA, translating science into policy for seven years, building bridges between communities and the federal government from Maine to North Carolina.

Now, as a Strategic Advisor at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, I am responsible for aligning our $78 million budget with our mission. I am at the heart of our operations, ensuring every resource we have is used to its full potential to meet the mission.

This is more than a job to me, it's what I'm meant to do. My career is a testament to the fact that passion, grit, and hands-on experience are the most powerful tools we have to drive discovery and innovation related to the ocean. I am not just a scientist or a policy analyst; I am a steward of the sea, committed to building a stronger future for our marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.