Coastal Management Fellowship

2024–2026 Fellowship Project Summaries

San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission: Nayre Herrera, from Cal Poly Humboldt and nominated by California Sea Grant, was matched with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to ensure that environmental justice principles are implemented into the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s permitting process, reducing the probability of future harm to disadvantaged communities.

California Coastal Commission: Margaret Campbell, from Oregon State University and nominated by Oregon Sea Grant, was matched with the California Coastal Commission to develop policy guidance documents, identify mitigation strategies, and plan and implement outreach strategies critical to the long-term implementation of the California Coastal Commission's offshore wind program in concert with the agency's existing environmental justice and tribal consultation policies.

CNMI Division of Coastal Resources Management: Kellie Cutsinger, from the University of Washington and nominated by Washington Sea Grant, was matched with the CNMI Division of Coastal Resources Management to collaborate closely with key stakeholders to update the 1991 Saipan Comprehensive Wetlands Management Plan and further integrate wetland spatial, ecological, and functional data and analysis for other CNMI islands to transform it into a CNMI-wide comprehensive wetlands management plan.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Mallory Lentz, from the University of Rhode Island and nominated by Rhode Island Sea Grant, was matched with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to spearhead a multipronged approach for addressing coastal public access needs in Connecticut through an equity and environmental justice lens.

Georgia Coastal Management Program: Tyler Cooper-Kolb, from Oregon State University and nominated by Oregon Sea Grant, was matched with the Georgia Coastal Management Program to develop an outreach and education strategy for coastal resilience in Georgia by determining needs of unique communities and working with the Georgia Coastal Management Program to implement the strategy.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Chesapeake and Coastal Service: Laura Exar, from Duke University and nominated by North Carolina Sea Grant, was matched with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Chesapeake and Coastal Service to develop data-led adaptive management approaches to guide transparent state investments in resilient, nature-based restoration projects based on site-level project successes and advance support for adaptation industries by helping to build Maryland's coastal natural resource–based workforce.

Washington Department of Ecology Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program: Robyn Norman, from Cal Poly Humboldt and nominated by California Sea Grant, was matched with the Washington Department of Ecology Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program to develop resources and tools for Washington that support the use, preservation, and expansion of shoreline public access, with a focus on increasing equity and environmental justice.