Why did you decide to become a professor?

I began applying for faculty positions after a phase of my postdoc that involved a lot of solitary time writing R code. I realized that as much as I enjoyed research, my sense of purpose was in sharing a love of discovery and learning with others. Doing research with my students is among the greatest joys of my job. I was incredibly fortunate to start my career as a professor in Juneau, Alaska, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where I worked for 9 years before joining SMEA.

What do you like most about your work?

My research has taken me on amazing adventures, from collecting tiny fishes at glacial river deltas to interviewing subsistence hunters on the tundra. What I most cherish about these experiences has been the ability to connect deeply with people and places in ways that extend beyond the limits of scientific inquiry. When my students and I spend time in a place together—when we engage with the people most knowledgeable and connected to the land and sea—I feel wonder and gratitude that is hard to adequately express in words.

If you could have any amount of funding to conduct research, what would you do, and why?

I would form an institute to bring together fishers, scientists, artists, knowledge holders, and decision-makers to work together on innovative projects that help build resilience to climate change and the many other pressures coastal communities face. We would help to build capacity for community-based research and monitoring, and facilitate knowledge sharing through collaborative projects that bridge diverse perspectives and expertise. So, who wants to fund it? 🙂

How would you describe SMEA students?

SMEA students are passionate, creative, synthetic thinkers who care very deeply about making positive change. I have already learned so much from SMEA students during my first year and a half here, and am excited to continue working together to strengthen our community.

What advice would you give to students who are considering studying at SMEA?

Talk with SMEA students and alums about their experiences in the program and learn about the wide variety of jobs people get after earning their MMA degrees. It helps to think about the types of skillsets, knowledge, and experience you hope to gain during your Master’s program and ask about opportunities at SMEA that align with your goals.

What is your favorite form of marine life, and why?

Impossible question! I love all marine creatures…but I have always had a soft spot for the fishes that no one seems to care much about. Sculpins are a prime example. As I wrote in a short article professing my love for these underappreciated bottom-dwellers, “Sculpins are not only a fascinating group of abundant, ubiquitous fishes but they may very well be the silent rulers of coastal marine ecosystems.”

Learn more about Professor Beaudreau by visiting her faculty page.