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

I was initially very methodical with applying to graduate schools. I had various checklists of what I was looking for in a program, I had a pros and cons board of the different schools that I was looking into, and I wanted to be as proactive as possible with reaching out to professors and potential advisors to get a feel for whether I might be a good match for someone’s lab. But as it tends to do, life happened and I found myself in a place where I only ended up applying to SMEA. It was intimidating for me to be putting all my eggs in one basket, so I’m grateful to have been accepted into the program and now that I’m here I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.

Why did you decide to attend the UW, and SMEA specifically, for graduate school?

I interned with the Marine Conservation Institute back in 2016 here in Seattle (their office is based in Wallingford for anyone interested!) and had the opportunity to explore the city and the UW campus for several months. Both this trip and my memories from growing up on the west coast really stuck with me after I returned to the east coast to finish my undergraduate program. I knew I wanted to go to grad school eventually for (to be transparent) the advantage it would give me in the environmental workforce. With this in mind, UW was a place that already had a sense of familiarity and comfort for me. SMEA outshined my other graduate school interests because of what it could do to enhance my general biology background and the flexibility to “choose my own adventure” with my advisor, my research focus, and my degree track.

Tell us about your Thesis work

It’s nice that I’ve had the opportunity to choose a thesis topic that is deeply interesting to me. I had danced around with a few ideas initially, but I’ve landed on examining bycatch mitigation methods, specifically the effectiveness of visual light deterrents. I also feel very fortunate that I was initially placed with an advisor that I’ve been able to stay with for my time in this program and that shares research interests with me.

What has been your favorite class so far? Why?

I took a class on Ecosystem Services that was incredibly interesting! I had never been formally introduced to the concept prior to taking the class but I recognized familiar topics and ideas throughout the lecture. I also found myself making connections with the materials from this class in other classes and settings, which I felt only enhanced my learning experience. It was a Special Topics class, SMEA 550, so I’m not sure how often it’ll be open for registration, but I would recommend it to other students if their schedules allow for it.

What do you like most about SMEA?

I like that it pushes me outside of a box in that I’ve never really looked at the marine environment from a social justice/social sciences lens. I like what the interdisciplinary nature of the program has done for my view of marine affairs and I appreciate the professional opportunities that have opened for me along the way.

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

I’ve lived here for about a year now in September and it’s been great. I feel like Seattle is big enough to have something new to do every day but not too big that it’s an overwhelming environment if that makes sense. When I have free time I love to paddle board, play soccer, and explore the neighborhoods around my home. I love a good walk around Green Lake and my favorite coffee spot is probably Fresh Flours in Phinney Ridge.

Who was your support network while pursuing your MMA? Did you have an alternative outlet (ex. kickboxing, hiking, etc.)?

It’s definitely been a combination of family and friends. Geographically, the closest family I have are all down in California so I’ve had a virtual support system from my mom, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I have best friends that support me from afar as well. The friends I’ve made in this program and in adjacent programs like the School of Aquatics and Fishery Sciences have been stellar. They can very directly relate to what I’m feeling in this academic journey and they’ve all shown themselves to be people I can count on. My go-to outlet is probably arts and crafts projects, I like to paint, knit, crochet, and cross-stitch and I’m always looking for a new artsy outlet to pursue.

What is your favorite form of marine life and why?

My interests primarily lie with marine fauna. I’ve always been a big marine mammal person, but I’ve discovered a love for gastropods, specifically nudibranchs. I volunteer at the Seattle Aquarium on weekends and we’ve had a spotlight table on various gastropods found in Puget Sound. We had a sea lemon and a leopard dorid set up for guests to get a closer look at them and I was immediately obsessed.

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

Sea to SEA: A Marine Scientist’s Journey from Coast to Coast