To expand my knowledge of the different industries related to marine affairs and ecology.

I had researched a variety of schools but had my heart set on going to UW. I had applied to a few programs at the school but SMEA was my top choice

I had first heard about SMEA while researching what kind of programs were in the College of the Environment. I thought SMEA was a perfect blend of natural and social science with a diversity of avenues to take.

I first moved to Seattle for a job in public health and fell in love with the nature my first two years of living there. Over time I wanted to change my career and go back to my original passion of marine science and have a positive impact on the new community and ecosystem I was part of. I realized going to graduate school was the next natural step and UW had the perfect program to actualize my goals.

I had the pleasure to work with Delaney Cyphers and Kyla Bivens on a capstone project that explored Oregonians’ perspectives on aquaculture and its potential expansion in the state. Previous research alludes to many challenges preventing aquaculture in Oregon from reaching the same industrial capacity as California and Washington, including a potential social license from non-industry people (the ‘silent majority’). We distributed a survey across the state to understand if there was a negative perception of aquaculture that could have an impact on the industry as a whole.

I really enjoyed Chris Sergeant’s Coastal Management Field Experience class. I am definitely a hands-on learner and being able to see real-world case studies on how our watershed is managed in the greater Seattle area was incredibly valuable and impactful for me.

I like that there is a lot of flexibility in the courses you can take, you can really personalize your learning journey and take courses in other programs to supplement your learning.

I love Seattle for its natural spaces and access to water. When it’s warm I can easily be found by the water with friends either paddleboarding or reading, and I try to bike to campus every day to spend time outside.

I would love to work for tribes and be a bridge between tribal affairs and state governing powers. I think there are still a lot of environmental and social justice issues in Washington state, and I believe tribal sovereignty and governance is essential to us all.

The friends I made in my cohort have been my rock during my educational journey. We bonded in our first quarter while we all took similar classes and have been friends ever since then in school and off campus. We have done a few excursions and try to get some treats together during the week. My support network also includes friends outside of school, like my partner and my roommates!

I would love to visit Alaska one day! I have learned so much about the fisheries and indigenous communities there and would love to see what I lave learned in person.

I love oysters because I think they are essential to so many marine ecosystems and hold a lot of cultural value.