| Q&A Profiles

Q&A with Elyse Kelsey

Finalist for the 2025 Husky 100

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?

I decided to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs to bridge the gap between communities and scientists through environmental education, communication, and citizen science programs. This interest in working directly with communities has evolved during my time in graduate school to a passion for community-engaged research in environmental and public health issues.

Describe your experience in applying to and selecting a graduate program.

I first applied for graduate school in 2020 during the height of the pandemic because I felt as though my career prospects were limited as a recent grad. As a first-generation college student, I was new to navigating the higher education application process and with the added challenge of not knowing if schools and labs would be open the following year it was an extremely stressful time. Being rejected from all of the programs I applied to (including SMEA!) was devastating. Over the next two years, I worked in elementary education and found that I enjoyed teaching others. With this new interest in mind, I reapplied to programs that were interdisciplinary and SMEA was at the top of my list!

Tell us about your Capstone Project

My SMEA Capstone project is a scoping literature review to identify characteristics of aquaculture sites that lend themselves to positive biodiversity outcomes. Our client for this project is the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. While I don’t have a background in aquaculture or food systems, I have gained a lot of project coordination skills working with a large team and an even larger spreadsheet of data!

What was pursuing a graduate certificate like?

Through the Climate Change and Health graduate certificate, I have been able to take more environmental health classes and connect with professors
 doing incredible work in this field. The certificate hasn’t been a huge lift credit-wise at only 15 credits, and the courses also count towards the M.M.A. credit requirements. The certificate requires a Capstone project that I am starting and finishing this quarter [spring 2025], while also wrapping up my SMEA Capstone. I am working with scientists at the Errett Research Group to analyze how public health is incorporated into emergency management plans in Washington’s coastal counties. It has been a bit tricky so far this quarter to balance both projects, but it is definitely manageable if you stay organized and are okay with giving up some of your weekends!

 

What has been your favorite class so far? Why?

My favorite class so far has been Terrie’s field trip class that I took my very first quarter. Even though I am from Washington, it was fun to visit restoration sites around the Salish Sea at places I had never been to before. I enjoyed learning about the various ongoing and completed projects in the region and the ability to connect with industry professionals. The driving was stressful and the traffic was pretty bad but the good company more than made up for it.

What do you like most about SMEA?

I really like the size of the cohorts and the relationships you are able to build with peers and faculty since the program is so small. I have enjoyed chatting with some of the first years one-on-one, getting to know them, and learning about their interests. SMEA is a unique program because everyone is so friendly and genuinely roots for each other.

What’s it like living outside of Seattle? What do you do in your spare time? Any favorite local spots?

I live in Bothell, which is a bit of a farther commute, but I enjoy living in the small downtown area. Being a 15-minute walk from everything is incredible–you name it and Bothell has it! I want to shout out the Daily Grind coffee shop because it is a great spot to grab a coffee and do some work. I go there almost every weekend and I enjoy seeing the same regulars stopping in contributing to the small town feel of a growing city.

Who was in your support network while pursuing your MMA?

My fiancé, Conner, has been my number one supporter. From my first round of graduate school rejections to my graduate school acceptances two years later, he has been with me through every step. He was so excited when I chose UW for graduate school because now we are a Husky family!

If your time in SMEA was a movie, what would be the title? 

“The Wedding Planner”

What was it like to plan a wedding while pursuing a master’s degree? What did you learn from it?

I wasn’t planning on getting engaged while I was in graduate school, but I was certainly hoping I would! My fiancé, Conner, proposed during spring break of 2024 on our long-anticipated trip to Italy. Having a few quarters of graduate school under my belt when I started planning helped me stay organized through my 11 spreadsheets (and counting!) for wedding day details and all the various events leading up to the big day! Wedding planning gave me a source of productive procrastination for my schoolwork and scrolling through Pinterest boards helped entertain me during my long bus commute from Bothell. I have learned how to successfully balance competing priorities while staying focused on the big picture without getting lost in the details of things like napkin rings or signage fonts.