One of the many advantages of studying at SMEA is the opportunity to engage with the vast resources available across the University of Washington.
Recently, students in the Marine Science in the Coastal Zone course, taught by Assistant Professor Erendira Aceves Bueno, Ph.D., visited the UW Fish Collection, a globally significant archive of fish biodiversity. During their visit, students had the chance to observe an incredible diversity of species up close, from beautifully preserved coastal fishes to the striking and unforgettable deep-sea anglerfish. 

Second-year School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) graduate students Amie Kusch and Clare Knife were recently invited to attend the FAO Expert Workshop: Turning Guidance into Action: Regional Insights for Implementing the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The invitation came from their FAO client, Amber Himes-Cornell, whose collaboration with the students is part of their SMEA capstone project. 

SMEA Associate Professor Anne Beaudreau recently attended the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG), where members of the SMEA community played an active role in advancing research on Dungeness crab biology, ecology, and fisheries.
SMEA students Hannah Brown, Devynn Gately, and Maddie Gard presented thesis research through posters and talks. Capstone students Kiki Dial, Jo Harris, Katie Raab, and Zoe Tucker-Borrut also contributed by helping facilitate a PCRG session focused on identifying future research priorities for Dungeness crab. 

SMEA Associate Professor Sunny Jardine recently took students into the field to learn about culverts and other barriers that prevent fish passage. During the trip, students joined Catalina Burch, who now works with Trout Unlimited, to observe how barrier assessments are conducted to collect data for fish passage barrier inventories.
Students Elise Wilson-Leedy, Eitan Gerstle, and Erica MacKenzie, who are currently working on a capstone project examining fish passage barriers in the Tulalip Tribes’ usual and accustomed fishing areas, participated in the trip alongside QERM student Guy Bennevat Hanninovich. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) is pleased to announce the 2026 Winter Speaker Series, “Building a Port for the Future.” Hosted in partnership with leaders from the Port of Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and the U.S. Coast Guard, this year’s series will explore how ports shape economic opportunity, community well-being, and environmental resilience across the region.
Running from January 15 through February 26, the series brings together senior executives, commissioners, environmental planners, SMEA alumni, and federal sector leadership for weekly conversations on the challenges and opportunities facing modern maritime systems. 

Students in SMEA 505 recently took their learning beyond the classroom with a field trip to Fishermen’s Terminal. Led by Terrie Klinger, professor at SMEA, the visit offered students an opportunity to explore one of Seattle’s historic working waterfronts.
During the trip, students learned about the terminal’s history, its management, and the important role it plays in supporting the regional fishing industry. 

A recent publication in PARKS Journal examines how cities around the world can better protect biodiversity through stronger recognition and management of urban protected areas (UPAs). The article was developed in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s World Commission on Protected Areas Urban Conservation Strategies Specialist Group and was featured in a special issue connected to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. 

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs celebrated the Class of 2025, honoring 21 students who earned their Master of Marine Affairs (MMA) degrees. These graduates now join an esteemed community of nearly 1,000 alumni and world-class policymakers dedicated to building a resilient future in marine and environmental affairs.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from SMEA Director Dr. 

The 2025 capstone and thesis projects at SMEA showcased a diverse range of interdisciplinary research addressing important environmental and social issues. Capstone teams collaborated with external partners to tackle real-world challenges, from enhancing environmental justice in flood management to exploring community benefit agreements for equitable renewable energy expansion. Our thesis-track students engaged in rigorous, independent research with topics ranging from marine science to policy analysis. 

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.