I have dedicated my career to inspiring the next generation of ocean-lovers. From feeding wolf eels underwater and talking with guests as an aquarium interpretive diver, to answering questions about deep sea volcanoes with classrooms aboard a research vessel fifty miles from shore, I pursue ways to expand how youth and their communities connect with the marine world. It thrills me to be a part of educational opportunities that I would have enjoyed when I was young, and I would have loved to attend Maritime High School!

As a Marine Science Program Developer at foundry10, I design and implement interdisciplinary programs for youth that reflect the creative and collaborative skills vital for careers in marine science and maritime industries. My team has developed a table top role-playing game that infuses ocean research and maritime challenges with quest-based play. We have also supported a VR game exploring fisheries bycatch and created the Ultimate Guide to Underwater Work, an interactive web resource of ocean-related careers. From my own experiences of weeks at sea and hours underwater, I know the importance of both teamwork and problem solving, so it’s exciting to be a part of Maritime High School’s project-based learning (PBL) as a member of the Maritime Resources and Research Project Design Working Group.

In this collaborative role, I’ve been able to pull from my past experiences, both as a formal classroom teacher and as an informal educator, to help generate compelling learning scenarios. PBL is all about real-world phenomena that can drive student questioning and engagement and what better place to look for authentic scenarios than the marine environment! From the complexities of fisheries sustainability to the challenge of constructing a piling underwater and near protected species habitat, the possibilities for real-world projects are seemingly endless.

I’m looking forward to connecting with Maritime High School students and teachers even more directly this fall as I board the E/V Nautilus on an expedition to explore underwater volcanoes in the Pacific. Maritime High School students and I will dialogue directly from the ship about life at sea, challenges our team is facing, and the exciting new discoveries being made using ROVs and other ocean technology. I hope to help expand the ways these students envision their potential career and lifelong role in the marine environment and I am committed to partnering with Maritime High School’s mission of reducing barriers and increasing access for the next generation of maritime professionals.

This is our moment to create positive regional change through powerful maritime experiences. Find out how your investment will make a difference for the students of Maritime High School. Click here to learn more and make a gift.

To learn more and enroll, visit maritime.highlineschools.org