Several SMEA graduates go on to complete year-long fellowships through programs like Washington Sea Grant and NOAA. Below, a few alumni share their fellowship experiences and how SMEA prepared them for these roles.

Devon Lombard-Henley ’23
2024 – 2025 Knauss Fellowship

I first heard about the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship about a month into my studies at SMEA. I was immediately interested when I learned how the fellowship combined marine science and national ocean policy – just like I was planning to do with my dual degrees from SMEA and the Evan’s School at UW! A little over three years later, it was finally time to apply for the fellowship and I was selected as a finalist just after graduation (and a very long application process). I was placed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Marine Program and I moved to Washington, DC for the start of the new year and my time as a Knauss Fellow.

At the USFWS, I quickly learned how much interagency coordination and collaboration drove national ocean policy. From drafting and editing documents like the National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and the U.S. Ocean Biodiversity Strategy & Implementation Plan, to participating in the US Coral Reef Task Force and UN Ocean Decade Domestic Coordination Working Group, I got a front row seat to the executive side of our federal marine policy process. The USFWS Marine Program coordinates ocean-related activities across the Service and participates in any applicable interagency groups or projects to make sure the USFWS and its priorities are included. But what exactly does the USFWS do with the ocean? Glad you asked. The Service manages over 760 million marine acres (more than any other government agency, including NOAA)! This spans across 182 coastal and marine National Wildlife Refuges and five US Marine National Monuments (and includes 72% of our nation’s coral reefs). As one of the largest federal marine managers, the USFWS oversees the conservation and restoration of waters across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, from American Samoa to the Mariana Trench and the Arctic Circle.

One of the biggest priorities for my time with the USFWS has been improving the outreach, education, and communication efforts of the Marine Program to help increase the Service’s visibility and recognition as a major player in ocean spaces. Coming from a science- and government-heavy background, this goal was daunting to me at first. But the interdisciplinary nature of my degrees from SMEA and the Evan’s School prepared me to tackle a large communications project better than I realized. Understanding my audience, tailoring my message and delivery style, and transitioning between virtual and in-person mediums were all skills I’d learned and practiced during my three years of graduate school. My time at SMEA and the Evan’s School also helped me grow more confident navigating the relationships between science, public policy, and social justice – which has been extremely valuable in my outreach, education, and communication efforts on behalf of the USFWS Marine Program. Whether I’m creating a website, designing an informational brochure, facilitating a Q&A panel, or filming a short YouTube video, the impacts of SMEA and the Evan’s School are evident in practically all the work I’ve done as a Knauss Fellow.

Noah Linck ’23
2023 – 2024 Hershman Fellowship

During my Hershman Fellowship at the Washington State Department of Ecology, I had the incredible opportunity to dive into the world of coastal resilience, working directly with local communities, federal and state agencies, and Tribes. I learned how to navigate the tricky balance between science, policy, and real-world community needs in the marine and coastal policy world. One of my main roles was co-managing the Washington Coastal Hazards Resiliency Network, organizing our annual meeting that hosted over 100 coastal resilience practitioners. Additionally, I worked on Ecology’s steering committee to update sea level rise policies for the state. Lastly, I collaborated with a small team to co-develop a $73.5 million proposal for NOAA’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. This project, which brought together Tribes, local governments, and organizations across Washington, will fund critical projects in coastal restoration, fellowship programs, and climate resilience research. Throughout this fellowship, I’ve been fortunate to work with many passionate coastal and climate practitioners, and it’s inspiring to know there are so many dedicated professionals working tirelessly to build more resilient communities across the state.

Katie Love ’23
2023 – 2024 Hershman Fellowship

A few months after graduating from SMEA, I was selected as one of seven Hershman Fellows, a year-long ocean and coastal policy fellowship hosted by Washington Sea Grant. Matched with the Puget Sound Partnership, I gained hands-on experience at the intersection of science and policy. The Partnership’s position as a backbone agency gave me insight into just how connected the region’s restoration community is, and how this work is accomplished collaboratively. My projects included co-developing the 2025-2029 Science Work Plan, scoping a new region-wide knowledge network, and writing an article that was published in the Partnership’s quarterly magazine Making Waves and was a key communications piece at Puget Sound Day on the Hill. In addition to working on these projects and providing overall support to the Partnership’s science and communications teams, I was able to cater my professional development to my interests. Notably, I took six months of Spanish, volunteered for DNR’s Aquatic Nearshore Monitoring Network, and attended numerous conferences on topics such as environmental justice, climate change, and coastal restoration. All of these fellowship experiences built on knowledge I gained from my time at SMEA, providing tangible examples to many of the topics I discussed in classrooms with my peer’s just a year prior.

Hannah Tennet ’23
2023 – 2024 Hershman Fellowship

When I accepted a Hershman fellowship position, I hoped to grow professionally but I didn’t know I would gain an intimate familiarity with the curves in the drive to Forks, that I’d learn from Tribal environmental leaders speaking at conferences in OR, WA, and AK, or that I would write more than I had for any project in SMEA. As a fellow working for the Hoh Indian Tribe’s Natural Resources Department over the past year, I researched and wrote a climate change assessment. I had the privilege of working with Kelly Rosales, the Historic Preservation Officer, to interview 13 Tribal members. Their experiences and knowledge were combined with future predictions to understand the risks climate change poses to Hoh resources and ways of life. I modeled my work on other Tribal climate plans and resources from networks like the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. Having gained a greater appreciation for how complex the world of climate change planning and adaptation is, I’m grateful for this Hershman experience and hoping to continue to gain skills in this work.

My SMEA education supported me in a variety of ways. When I was working on a capstone project with Professor Jardine, she set our team up for success by outlining a rigid structure for deadlines that created time for editing and presentation practice. I modeled my personal deadline structure off my capstone experience. In a year where so much information was new, I appreciated that SMEA had given me a foundation in some specific topics including the Boldt Decision, interviewing, and qualitative coding. Finally, I am grateful for the SMEA network. As I met folks working in the environmental field across WA, it was always fun to meet other alumni and share experiences.