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

Applying to graduate school was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Not necessarily because it was hard to put together an application, but because of the mental blocks that paralyzed me from even beginning. It took the pandemic, the realization that life was too short to not pursue your passions, and a LOT of therapy to get me to even apply. 

Why did you decide to pursue a master’s in 
marine affairs?

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

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

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

How did you first hear about SMEA? 

How would you describe yourself as an undergraduate student?
Curious about many things, but not particularly interested in getting to the root of any one subject.
When and how did you discover your passion/interest in marine and environmental affairs?
I think of marine and environmental affairs as a panoply of subjects that happen to overlap in the ocean — e.g., environmental law, marine biology, economics, policy. 

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. 

How did you first hear about SMEA? What were your impressions of the program?

In the spring of 2016, nearly nine years ago, I first discovered the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA). At the time, I had been accepted into the University of Washington as an undergraduate and was exploring various academic options to determine which program piqued my interest most. 

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?
I’ve always loved the ocean but never quite felt at home in my oceanography undergrad. I felt there was more I could be doing for conservation and sustainability. When I read the course description and looked into the classes, I felt like they were made for me!

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

 
On June 28, 2023, Dean Tolstoy and Director Dolšak hosted Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U. S. Coast Guard and SMEA alumna (MMA ’00). For reference, Admiral Fagan is the 27th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), overseeing operations of more than 50,000 members and a fleet of 259 cutters, 200 aircraft, and 1,600 boats. Admiral Fagan was in Seattle to preside over the change of command ceremony for Healy, an active icebreaker homeported in Seattle. 

Alumna Connie Sullivan graduated from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs in 2012. Connie currently works as the Clean Boating Coordinator for Oregon Sea Grant and enjoys working with the boating community to ensure our waterways stay clean. Read on to learn more about Connie’s career and what advice she has for current SMEA students.
How did your time in SMEA prepare you for your work?  

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?
I got my B.S. in environmental science so majority of my classes were natural sciences. After graduating from undergrad, I interned with a non-profit organization back home in Hawai’i called Mālama Maunalua. During this internship, I worked on a storm water management project and became interested in learning about how policies are placed to protect both marine ecosystems and human health. 

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

I’ve been a sailor all my life and love being out on or in the water. After studying marine biology in undergrad, I knew I wanted to learn more about human-ocean interactions and how environmental policy looks for coastal and marine areas. A masters in marine affairs felt like the perfect opportunity to build on my marine science background so that I can really make a difference in the future.