City & Borough of Sitka, Alaska | Sitka, AK

Sustainability Coordinator

Balanced environmental, economic, and social aspects of solutions to a variety of municipal challenges including renewable energy development, solid waste management, and food security.

Imagine Children’s Museum | Everett, WA

Exhibits & Living Collections Manager

Designed, prototyped, and fabricated multiple elements for ICM’s $25M capital expansion project including but not limited to: The Puget Sound Ecosystem Gallery, Wildlife Clinic Exhibit, and Birdwatching Exhibit.

• Established partnerships with local tribal entities to collaborate on aquarium interpretive signage to include Lushootseed names of local marine life –the first to do so in Washington state.
• Designed an interactive display for a 42-foot gray whale skeleton display and developed signage that illustrated the story of its journey from Puget Sound to the museum.
• Developed action-orientated conservation messaging for young children in the Woodland Adventures gallery.
• Expanded collection management policies to include objects and living collections to meet AAM accreditation.
• Responsible for capital campaign outreach and fundraising materials such as newsletters and social media posts.

Puget Sound Aquarium Designer & Biology Consultant

Collaborated on developing a Puget Sound Ecosystem exhibit. Designed a unique, interactive gray whale bone display including pollution education. Project was on hiatus from May-October, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Developed a custom 600-gallon cold water, closed system aquarium to house over 30 species of local marine life.
• Authored an accessible, 50-page technical manual for aquarium husbandry for ICM staff use.
• Prepared study plan and received state and federal scientific collection permits of live specimens and bird artifacts for educational display and fulfilled annual reporting requirements necessary for renewal.

Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA & University of Washington | Seattle, WA

Communications Developer & Jellyfish Aquaculturist

Contracted to produce and maintain a stock of moon jellyfish for mesocosm studies investigating small medusaes’ water clearing capability of seasonal zooplankton. Developed public outreach materials as required by Washington Sea Grant.

• Created a video game, board game, and educational and activity toolkit to highlight jellyfish in Puget Sound ecology to meet Washington Sea Grant outreach requirements.
• Participated in UW’s Engage! Science Seminar Series to communicate research through written articles and live digital presentation to 700+ viewers in partnership with Town Hall.
• Partnered with local marine centers and aquariums to incorporate the tools into existing or new curricula.
• Contracted via Ocean Associates (2019) and UW (2020) to construct and maintain life support systems for approximately 5,000 jellyfish.
• Optimized over 35 ex-situ experiment runs over two summers based on aquaculture expertise.

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium | Tacoma, WA

Dive Programs & Aquarium Assistant

Ensured the safety of 16 daily Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive program participants while providing enthusiastic shark conservation messaging. Collected and organized evaluation data.

• Executed 3-5 weekly in-house and/or field dives to fulfill the husbandry needs of individual exhibits and the overall goals of the aquarium under recreational, commercial, and AAUS scientific standards.
• Participated in aquarium dive shows highlighting native species of Puget Sound in PDZA’s Northwest Waters exhibit.
• Underwent extensive dive safety training including First Aid and CPR, AED, and Emergency Oxygen Provider and maintained certifications.
• Interviewed four participants daily for program feedback and analyzed six years of previous collected qualitative and quantitative data.
• Organized database of over 6,000 survey responses.

Marine Science & Technology (MaST) Center | Des Moines, WA

Collections Manager & Graphic Designer

Recruited to prepare biological specimens for educational purposes including permanent slides, wet and dry preservation, and skeleton articulation. Created a cohesive brand featuring local marine life.

• Oversaw biological specimen collection including marine mammals and endangered species specimens and ensured permit compliance and maintained permitting requirements.
• Assisted in teaching four marine science classes per quarter and instructed over 150 students in scientific principles.
• Established and enforced high safety standards for all staff and over 200 volunteers.
• Provided instructional support for 3-5 weekly K-12 school group tours, serving over 10,000 students annually.
• Consulted on community development projects including an artificial reef, youth career workshops, refugee mentorships, and other events.
• Collaborated with executives to establish the Community Marine Science Centers Coalition, consisting of 15 community-oriented centers in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
• Managed laboratory budget and material tracking of supplies such as glassware and chemicals.
• Responsible for promotional graphics, videos, and photographs for social media, annual events, and apparel.

Community Science Manager: Jellyfish Aquaculture

Responsible for designing, constructing, and performing daily maintenance of moon jellyfish pseudokreisel systems, feeding, water quality, and other aquaculture requirements. Worked closely with volunteer coordinator to recruit, train and interview prospective interns, and advise on their personal aquaculture projects.

• Revitalized the program by developing an intensive 12-week online training program for volunteers to ensure consistent knowledge and techniques. This overhaul elevated the team to become the leading volunteer program.
• Authored a 70-page manual for small-scale aquaculture, ideal for small marine centers seeking to keep jellies.
• Evaluated and reported success through volunteer surveys and incorporated feedback into the program.
• Advised on strategic plan on the direction of current and developing new community science programs.
• Presented posters and seminars illustrating the success of the program at multiple national and international conferences.
• Managed schedules and daily tasks for 12-15 aquaculture volunteers and college interns.
• Collaborated on development, training, and evaluation for all 200+ volunteers and four community science programs.
• Supervised 4-6 volunteers during public “Discovery Day” hours and provided interpretive support.

Student Biologist

Maintained proper plumbing and tank systems by keeping them free from fouling growth including pump maintenance to ensure proper function of marine life support systems. Assisted in administering care to injured and ill animals and observing behavior for signs of distress. Responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining moon jellyfish pseudokreisel systems.

• Solidified the MaST jellyfish program as a viable citizen science team and established basic protocol.
• Supervisor responsible for public hours, opening, cleaning, general management, and closing of all aquarium, volunteer, and public functions including octopus feedings and live dive commentary.

Brigham Young University Hawai’i | Laie, HI

Lead Research Scientist

Selected as Cnidarian specialist for an annual invertebrate biodiversity study in Saipan, CNMI. Collect specimens and field photos via SCUBA diving. Coordinated and educated a team of student researchers in proper underwater photographic techniques, camera maintenance, and marine classification.

• Selected for advanced cave diving due to AAUS scientific diver experience and demonstrated photography ability.
• Prepared and analyzed final photograph collection and log for over 2000 specimens for species identification including 3-5 new species of anemone.

Lead Marine Wet Lab & Teaching Assistant

Responsible for management, maintenance, and husbandry of saltwater aquariums as well as collection, identification, and photographic cataloging. Advised students on methods to safely and humanely conduct research experiments with marine fish and invertebrates; as well as instructing proper aquarium care and animal safety to other lab technicians and marine biology students.

• Successfully designed, assembled, and established multiple large-scale closed aquarium systems including a 500-gallon multi-tank system that featured an octopus, reef, surge enclosures, a 175-gallon classroom display tank, and a 40-gallon tank for a professor’s office.
• Expanded care capabilities to include reptiles, amphibians, and freshwater organisms.
• Instructed marine biology labs for over 50 students, coordinated 12 field excursions, and ensured safe animal handling.
• Collaborated with BYUH Natural History Museum to establish fish skeleton preparation techniques to establish a new collection.

Woodland Park Zoo

Converging with Conservation: Public Perceptions of Interconnectedness Between Environmental Conservation, Public Health, & Racial Justice

Coauthors: Eichholz S. Lokke, D., Marceline M.

Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA & University of Washington             

Ecological Effects of Jellyfish on Puget Sound’s Food Web

Principal Investigators: Keister J. & Greene, C.

Washington Informal Science Education (WISE) Consortium                 

Curiosity at the Museum of Flight

Coauthors: Bell S., Eichholz S., Juan J., Williams, K.

Marine Science & Technology (MaST) Center, Highline College             

Occurrence of Yersiniosis (Yersinia ruckeri) in Rockfish (Family: Sebastidae) and Greenlings (Family: Hexagrammidae)

Coauthor: Wilson, M.

Undergraduate Research, Brigham Young University Hawai’i             

Biodiversity of Invertebrates Within Intertidal and Subtidal Zones of Saipan, CNMI, Specializing in Scyphozoans, Cubozoans, and Hydromedusae

Faculty Mentor: Goodwill, R.

Effect of Light Wavelength on the Development of Cassiopea andromeda Ephyrae (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

Faculty Mentor: Goodwill, R.

Captive breeding and life stages of the Giant Hawaiian Darner, Anax strenuus (Insecta: Odonata)

Faculty Mentor: Bybee, D.