I believed the Beginning Environmental Leadership Position at the Georgia Aquarium was going to merely be an excuse to place me in proximity to the ocean life I’d developed such a deep passion for. I figured I’d roam the exhibits, peaceful before opening hours, simply grateful to have such intimate experiences with the fascinating creatures that sparked questions of marine biology, ecology, and conservation. After six months of volunteering and training, I was completely reformed and set out on a path to pursue research and conservation of marine life and environments. Although my research career has been an interdisciplinary journey, I find myself continuously immersed in coral reef ecosystems. In 2022, I completed the Black in Marine Science Immersion Program which is a week-long experiential learning platform for students to receive their scuba certification, participate in restoration projects, and tour facilities dedicated to developing the standard of ocean stewards. One of our projects involved a partnership with the University of Miami’s Rescue-a-Reef citizen science diving program where I dove into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, watched as professional divers maintained the underwater nursery, and even participated in reef restoration as I made a ‘coral cookie’ to be outplanted on the reef. This experience, being one of my first hands-on opportunities in marine science, inspired me to pursue coral restoration and conservation. In May 2025, I completed Reef Renewal USA’s (RRUSA) Breaking Barriers in Marine Science Coral Restoration Residency. I was formally trained on the types of corals in the nursery and surrounding reefs (Molasses, Conch) and proper techniques to clean, fragment, and outplant corals during our restoration dives. This involved similar methods applied during the Rescue-a-Reef project on RRUSA’S Tavernier Nursery. The experience was surreal as I was able to glimpse into the life of a scientific diver, a career goal of mine, and take on the responsibilities of a reef keeper. Several days of diving and collaborating with all kinds of ocean advocates from reef techs to filmmakers to volunteer divers, has inspired me to focus my graduate school thesis on tropical ecology, specifically Atlantic coral reefs. Through July-August 2025, using my environmental science background and hands-on experience with coral reefs, I became part of the SSV Robert C.Seamans’ science team as a mentor to students through their field work and research in the Sea Education Association’s (SEA) Coral Reef Conservation: Hawai’i program. I employed snorkel-based methods including invertebrate & fish ID, coral ID & health assessment, and water monitoring and sampling on several reefs in the Hawai'ian islands. The program also highlighted a significant connection between Hawai’ian native culture, seas, and Ko’a (coral). I was overjoyed to practice another discipline of coral reef science, especially as a well-rounded leader in the program! Coral Reef Conservation: Hawai’i reaffirmed a deep passion within me to receive a specialized education in marine biology. In graduate school, I will apply research and field techniques to the conservation and restoration of marine life and environments. I am eager to diversify my research skills by exploring the intersections between marine ecology, biology, and conservation. Coral reefs are the ideal location to study species interactions, conservation strategies, and organismal biology. I will use the funding from this scholarship to assist with student fees as I pursue an M.S in Marine Biology. Without financial stressors prohibiting me from focusing solely on coursework and research, I can transition seamlessly into the next stage of my career. I see myself in close partnership with non-profit, local, and state government agencies as a field scientist who is hands-on in addressing the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on coral reefs.

When I graduate from Florida A&M University, I will join the 1.3% of Black environmental scientists and 1.6% of Black marine scientists operating in the United States workforce. Throughout my career as a blooming environmentalist and marine scientist, I have focused on the concepts of ecology, conservation, environmental health, and research. These aspects of nature contribute to the fact that there are no unimportant roles in the environment. Everything cooperates to keep the Earth, atmosphere, water bodies, geological processes, and chemical functions of the planet in balance. Human health and homeostasis are closely related to environmental health because if we do not have a healthy planet then we do not have healthy resources and in turn, our health has risk of being compromised through pollution and lack of resources. I will utilize my education and experiences to improve the health of minorities in my community by advocating for and creating a healthy environment. I have previously researched water quality and river sediments to determine what major elements are affecting the resources in the Savannah, Georgia area. I have also dedicated my time to a bioremediation project involving the use of bioluminescent bacteria to detect heavy metals like mercury in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Other research that I have completed has included examination of Apalachicola Bay oyster genes in Tallahassee, Florida. Oysters are crucial filtering species and work to cycle nutrients in major estuary and saline environments. My background experience in research has involved detection, monitoring, and management of natural resources. Without these processes and resources, human health would be at risk. Communities are often built around water bodies, agricultural land, and nutrient-rich ecosystems that citizens of the area are dependent on. As an environmentalist, it is my job to observe the community, locate any issues, experiment, and implement conclusive methods back into the environment. As a Black woman minority who is also a minority in her desired career field, I feel as though I have a personal duty to give back to my community. African-Americans and other People of Color have been historically disenfranchised and under-served and our health has not been prioritized. My plan to change this is to target minority communities and work closely with them so that they better understand ecological processes and can take it upon themselves to move with intent and take care of their environment. I will empower minorities to first educate themselves and then use that knowledge to personally contribute to issues like air pollution, water pollution, conservation, and restoration of resources. Contribution can be making sustainable changes in your daily routine or possibly doing more to advocate to politicians to make changes in your own area. Fixing environmental issues in their area will directly correlate to overall health of nature, organisms, and people that are part of the ecosystem.