Three School of Marine & Environmental Affairs Capstone Project teams will present a synthesis of their work and the findings to their client(s) on Friday, February 25th, 2022. Capstone presentations are the culminating experience of a team project that begins early in the first-year of the MMA. Students are selected to projects based on their preferences and interests, and work closely with a client and faculty advisor to tackle a real-world, practical problem or issue to produce a final report for the client. 

Describe your experience in applying to and selecting a graduate program.
I decided to get my master’s through reading postings for jobs with the Washington Department of Ecology. I knew it was the sort of work I wanted to transition into and saw that a master’s would help make me more competitive for entry-level positions and give me an edge as my career progressed. 

Current School of Marine and Environmental Affairs first-year student, Adrien Glenn Owens was recently published in the February 2022 edition of Marine Policy. She was a co-author on the paper “Lessons learned from a natural resource disaster: The long-term impacts of the Long Island Sound lobster die-off on individuals and communities”. A result of the research she conducted while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology at the University of New Haven. 

Every year, the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) awards financial support to students with varying interests and research focuses. These awards are made possible by our generous donors, which include alumni, faculty, staff, industry and community members. Many of these funds are established in memory of beloved members of the SMEA community. Awardees are identified by SMEA leadership and faculty based on fund availability, student focus, and financial need. 

How did SMEA first come across your radar? What were your impressions of the program?
SMEA first came across my radar while I was on campus to attend a symposium for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program in the fisheries building. My boss at the time invited someone from the university to come talk to the interns from Quinault about opportunities at UW, which also included graduate school. 

To-Nhu “Leslie” Nguyen, student in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, has been selected by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) for the Next Generation Fellowship, an opportunity that gives financial and academic support to Earth system science students from historically underrepresented groups. Nguyen was selected as the program’s public policy fellow.
“I am pleased to welcome this year’s cohort of fellows,” said UCAR President Antonio Busalacchi. 

Why did you decide to pursue a Master of Marine Affairs?
My journey to SMEA’s MMA program was a winding one. I never felt a clearly defined path to one field, but rather found myself vacillating between my interest in human psychology and my love of the natural world. I took several introductory courses in both fields during my early undergrad years, and ended up settling on a degree in psychology to study cognition and human decision making. 

A trio of recent publications feature a host of School of Marine and Environmental Affairs affiliates, and cover a wide array of topics. This is a good snapshot of the breadth of topics and material addressed through SMEA research and coursework.
Recent graduate Tressa Arbow ’19 was on a team of authors including Affiliate Professor Eddie Allison, which addressed the lagging change toward healthy and sustainable food sources. 

Though the 2020-2021 academic year was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEA students were undeterred. This academic year, 26 students will have received their Master’s of Marine Affairs. The Class of 2021 was in a unique position to have experienced a portion of their graduate studies in-person, while turning to virtual learning in the Spring 2020 quarter.
Despite the distance imposed on SMEA students, this cohort was able to make significant contributions and maintain the academic rigor expected for the degree, all while getting creative in forging social connections. 

2021 SMEA graduate Abigail Rogerson has been named to the University of Washington’s “Husky 100”. Rogerson was a member of a capstone project team advised by Dr. Nives Dolšak, which presented their work “Cascadia transboundary climate change and natural resource governance” in March 2021.
The “Husky 100” recognizes 100 students; graduates, undergraduates, and professional students across the three campuses (Seattle, Bothell, Tacoma) “who are making the most of their time” at the University.