Meet the Team
PROJECT LEADERS
Principle Investigator (2025-2027)
Co - Principle Investigator (2023-2025)
Dr. Jennifer Selgrath
Dr. Jennifer (Jenny) Selgrath works as a social-ecological researcher with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary’s science team. She is passionate about incorporating transdisciplinary spatial and social-ecological tools into research, monitoring, conservation, cultural preservation, and collaborative management of coastal ecosystems. She focuses on human dimensions of the ocean, including ocean access, subsistence fishing, historical ecology, climate impacts, cultural benefits, environmental justice, and on deep-sea coral habitats. Previously, she was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station where she integrated historical ecology and local ecological knowledge to assess biodiversity changes in Monterey Bay over the past two centuries. As a post-doc she also assessed the adaptive capacity of coastal fishing communities to respond to impacts from climate change. Jennifer completed her doctorate degree at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Oceans and Fisheries. During her PhD she worked in partnership with Project Seahorse, the Landscape Ecology Lab, and Zoological Society of London (ZSL)-Philippines. Her doctoral research focused on understanding long-term and spatial changes in the sustainability of small-scale fisheries, the influence of fisheries governance, and the impacts of fishing and other stressors on the spatial resilience of coral reefs. Jennifer earned her Master of Science degree in Biology from San Diego State University and her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University where she double majored in Dance and Earth & Environmental Science. She is a former AmeriCorps volunteer and a former Fulbright Scholar (Philippines).
Project Core Members
Principle Investigator (2023-2025)
Dr. Timothy Frawley
Dr. Timothy Frawley is a former commercial fisherman, coastal wildflower enthusiast, and mediocre surfer who has lived and worked in central California for over a decade. His fundamental goal as a researcher is to produce and communicate useful science capable of transforming the way people think about marine resource management and governance. As a transdisciplinary, coupled-systems scientist he relies upon mixed methods from the natural and social sciences and ongoing collaboration with active resource users to define research questions, collect data, and interpret results. His research to-date has spanned diverse sectors, scales, and geographies, including everything from the climate adaptation of small-scale fishers in Baja California Sur (Mexico) to the behaviors and operations of longline tuna fishing fleets in the Pacific high seas. Since obtaining his PhD from Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University in 2019, he’s been working as a member of the Fisheries Collaborative Program associated with University of California Santa Cruz and NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
Advisor & Researcher
Shannon Switzer Swanson
Shannon Switzer Swanson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environment and Geography at California State University San Marcos and a National Geographic Explorer. She is a marine social ecologist who blends theory and methods from cultural anthropology and conservation biology. Drawing from her experience as a photojournalist, Shannon utilizes visual participatory methods like community film and photography to better understand what motivates how people engage with their seascapes and how those seascapes, in turn, support human well-being. She has worked extensively in Oceania, with a focus on Indonesia, living and working with artisanal fishing families. Shannon was born and raised in San Diego and is excited to expand her research to include southern California coastal communities through this current project.
Ocean Access Project Coordinator (CMSF)
Manuela Diaz
Manuela works as the Ocean Access Project Coordinator with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF). She is passionate about integrating social science and human dimensions into coastal conservation to design and strengthen mutually beneficial interactions between people and nature.
Manuela holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara, where she specialized in Business & Sustainability and Coastal Resources Management. She also holds a BA in Multidisciplinary Design from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, along with a certificate in Integrated Coastal Management.
Prior to joining CMSF, Manuela worked as a service design consultant, focusing on sustainable tourism, customer experience, and business strategy. She has supported climate and ocean collaboration efforts through her work with the Chile–California Council and various Chilean foundations. Her work blends design thinking, stakeholder engagement, and environmental science to support more inclusive and responsive coastal management in both California and Chile.
Manuela is driven by a desire to create interdisciplinary, community-informed solutions that foster stronger and more harmonious relationships between people and the ocean.
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Advisor & Researcher
Teresa Romero
Teresa Romero is an enrolled member of the Coastal Band of Chumash, is a member Syuxtun Plant Collective, a traditional plant collective focusing on tending, gathering and preparation of traditional plants. Teresa has served on the MPA Statewide Leadership Team as a Tribal Representative since 2019. Teresa has worked for over 20 years assisting Tribal Communities on projects, such as acquiring lands for the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, protecting Treaty Rights (Little River Band of Ottawa Indians) and preserving traditional cultural knowledge for her Chumash community. Teresa has deep ties to her traditional homelands and the ocean.
Graduate Student
Emma Gee
Emma Gee is a PhD student in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz. She has a broad range of research interests, including discourses around Asian cultures in conservation, Indigenous fisheries sovereignty, and the ecological effects of fishing on the high seas. She is passionate about knowledge co-creation and how scientists can create conditions that catalyze transformative change. Prior to coming to UCSC, she completed a BS in Environmental Systems Engineering and an MS in Earth Systems from Stanford University
Graduate Student
Taylor Triviño
My name is Taylor Triviño and I am a first year masters student in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) at the University of Washington (UW). I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA where my interests lie in bridging the gap between science and policy/management. I pursued my passion for marine science by completing my undergraduate degree in Marine Science at CSU, Monterey Bay, and now on my next journey in graduate school.
Graduate Student
Carlie Domingues M.A.
I am a relative, scholar and facilitator. I earned my Masters in American Indian Studies at UCLA and I am currently a doctoral candidate in the Native American Studies program at UC Davis. I collaborate with various people, orgs and programs to support our collective health in abalone and oak ecosystems, emphasizing Indigenous California presence and food systems.
Collaborators
Advisor & Researcher
Dr. Katherine Seto
Katherine Seto is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is an interdisciplinary scholar whose research lies at the intersection of political ecology, governance theory, and sustainability science. Her research investigates the equity, sustainability, and governance of marine and coastal systems, and the reciprocal relationship they have with human wellbeing and conflict. Her current research explores the social and ecological consequences of fishing, distribution of coastal and marine resource benefits, and the role of seafood in local and global food systems.
Advisor & Researcher
Dr. Larry Crowder
Larry Crowder is the Edward F. Ricketts Provostial Professor of Marine Ecology and Conservation at Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. He is also Affiliated Faculty at Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions and Professor by Courtesy, Department of Biology. is recent research has focused on marine conservation, including research on bycatch, spatial ecological analysis, nutrients and low oxygen, sustainable seafood, ecosystem-based management, marine spatial planning, and governance.
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Advisor & Researcher
Dr. Rachel Seary
Rachel Seary is a postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz and the NOAA Environmental Research Division. She received a PhD in Geography from the University of Cambridge in 2019 before moving to the USA to study the California Current Ecosystem. Rachel is interested in the links between humans and the marine environment, and finding the balance between biodiversity conservation and sustaining ocean resources that people need for food, economy and well-being under changing environmental and regulatory landscapes. Her research investigates social-ecological challenges for fishing communities through participatory approaches.
Advisor & Researcher
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Duncan
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Duncan is a research ecologist with the NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Her work addresses the human dimensions of sanctuary management, deep sea coral ecosystems, spatial ecology, and climate change. Lizzie was formerly a Sea Grant Fellow, and completed her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in marine biology and biology from California State University, Long Beach.
INTERNS
2025-2026
Duke University
Santa Barbara
Brianna Karson
Brianna Karson (she/her) is a Master of Environmental Management candidate at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, where her academic concentrations are Coastal and Marine Systems and Community Engagement and Environmental Justice. Her research focuses on human dimensions of marine protected area management, with an emphasis on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a Minor in French from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Johns Hopkins University
Los Angeles
Kayla Rabey
Kayla Rabey is a fourth year student at Johns Hopkins University studying English and Environmental science with a passion for marine biology and conservation.
Kayla has spent the last few years working in marine conservation and animal rescue, interning at the Wildlife Care Association in 2023 and Hawaii Marine Animal Rescue in 2024. Originally getting involved in environmental policy as a representative on the Sacramento Environmental Commission, she currently volunteers at the Baltimore National Aquarium and is interested in exploring the dynamics between coastal policy, ecosystem protection, and wildlife care. Beyond the realm of academics, Kayla is a Certified Personal Trainer and F45 coach who also loves reading, surfing, wakeboarding, art, and traveling.
CSU Monterey Bay
San Diego
Jasmine Rosario
Jasmine Rosario is a rising senior at CSU Monterey Bay studying Marine Science and Statistics whose background and passion for the ocean drive her work as a Scientific Diver and researcher focused on inclusive, community-centered marine conservation.
Jasmine majors in Marine Science with a minor in Statistics. Originally from San Diego in a low-income household, Jasmine is driven by a commitment to equity, environmental justice, and creating opportunities for others. At CSUMB, she has gained hands-on experience through fieldwork and lab research focused on marine species and ecosystem health. As a certified Scientific Diver, she is dedicated to using science in practical restoration work while creating a legacy of conservation. She is also eager to strengthen her skills in science communication to help bridge the gap between research and public engagement, amplifying the impact of her conservation goals.
Cal Poly
Sonoma
Madeline Lucas
Madeline Lucas is an Environmental Management and Protection major at Cal Poly with minors in Global Politics and GIS, focused on bridging environmental science with public engagement.
I enjoy working at the intersection of research, outreach, and action. I’m especially interested in how we can use community-driven data and engagement to support more inclusive ocean management. I’ve always been drawn to the ocean, and now I’m excited to help protect it and make it more accessible for others!
CSU Long Beach
Los Angeles
Fernando Gutierrez
Fernando Gutierrez is a Marine Biology transfer student, in his last year at Cal State Long Beach after starting his education at Cal State San Bernardino.
As a first-generation college student and a child of immigrants, his goal is to further comprehensive conservation work by bridging together people and science. This year he’s currently interning at the Bolsa Chica Conservancy, helping bring people together with their local ecosystem through outreach and public service targeting endangered native bird species in the wetlands. He’s excited to continue that work this summer at the CA Marine Sanctuary Foundation, working to explore how people from all walks of life connect to the ocean.
PhD Candidate - UCSD/Scripps
Los Angeles DDT Angler/ Pier Surveys
Toni Sleugh
Toni Sleugh is a Ph.D. candidate in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studying how historical offshore pollution continues to impact fish, fisheries, and people who eat fish.
Toni got her B.S. from Iowa State University where she double majored in Biology and Environmental Studies with a minor in Political Science. She has always been interested in the intersection of science and policy, especially as it relates to environmental justice and advocacy. In addition to her research, Toni is an active member of Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science (BWEEMS). She also works with the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (CMBC) and UC San Diego’s Office of Utilities and Sustainability to connect her research to real world policy and management efforts. In her free time, Toni enjoys sewing, diving, and spending time with her two cats Miles (Davis) and Miles (Morales).
Cal Maritime
Humboldt/ Del Norte
Sebastian Pinedo
Sebastian Pinedo is a passionate fourth-year Oceanography Undergraduate student at California Maritime Academy, focusing on the conservation and protection of our oceans.
Sebastian spent the first 11 years of his life in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, where his closeness to the ocean sparked a deep interest in marine environments. As a first-generation college student, he is committed to pursuing his dream of becoming an oceanographer and contributing to research that supports the health and sustainability of our oceans. He has participated in projects such as microplastic research funded by COAST in the Carquinez Strait and co-presented the team’s findings at the 2025 Geological Scientific Association Conference. On campus Sebastian will serve as the Oceanography Senator in the student government for the 2025-2026 academic year. In his free time, he enjoys working out at the gym, playing volleyball and soccer, scuba diving and watching movies.
CSU San Marcos
San Diego
Alexa Hernandez
Alexa Hernandez is a first year transfer student at Cal State San Marcos, having transferred from Mt. San Jacinto College, majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology.
Growing up in Lake Elsinore motivated Alexa to explore how water access and management varies across cities with different resources. Witnessing the neglect of the local lake in her childhood had inspired her to understand and address these challenges in underrepresented communities. In her last semester of community college, Alexa joined the California Department of Wildlife and Fish as a volunteer where she gained experience educating communities regarding the treatment of wildlife. This summer, Alexa is an intern with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, working on an ocean access project in San Diego County, hoping to gain experience in ocean conservation. Outside of her university life, Alexa loves going to the gym and has a passion for baking!
2024-2025
UC Santa Barbara
Undergraduate Researcher
Lucas Lowe
Lucas is a fourth-year Environmental Studies major at UC Santa Barbara with a focus on Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology. His interest in the natural sciences stems from his time spent in Montana and Japan as a kid. He has a background in sustainability through volunteering as a sustainability chairman for various clubs and a startup. Recently, he took part in a field studies program where he conducted research on microplastic accumulation in queen conch (Aliger gigas). He has also worked as a research assistant for UC Santa Barbara faculty Dr. Peter Alagona assisting in his grizzly bear research project. This summer, Lucas is an intern at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary where he is working on a research project on ocean access, marine protected areas, and environmental justice for subsistence fishers in California. When he’s not working, Lucas is often found freediving around Santa Barbara or hiking the Santa Ynez mountains!
Project Tasks: GIS database curation and spatial analysis
Project Tasks: Web design, valuation framework literature review, semi-structured interview administration and transcription, qualitative data analysis
UC Santa Cruz
Undergraduate Student
Jasmine Tseng
Hi, my name is Jasmine Tseng. I grew up in the Minnesota Twin Cities area. I’m a marine biology undergraduate student at UC Santa Cruz. I’m interested in marine ecology, people’s relationship with the land around them, and the influence of socioeconomic factors on access and use of coastal areas and resources, and I’m excited to be able to explore that in this project.
CSU Monterey Bay
Undergraduate Student
Liam Hoffman
Hello, my name is Liam Hoffman and I am currently a fourth year undergraduate student attending CSU Monterey Bay. I was born and raised in San Diego where I was fortunate enough to be introduced to fishing and diving at a young age. As a marine science major and a deckhand on various vessels along the Eastern Pacific, my focuses include building closer and more meaningful relationships between the scientific and fishing communities in California and utilizing said relationships to ensure appropriate policies are in place that respect both communities along with properly managing local coastal resources.
CSU Monterey Bay
Undergraduate Student
Izzy Orozco
My name is Izzy Orozco, and I grew up in Los Angeles County. I’m currently a senior at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB), majoring in Marine Science with a minor in Journalism and Media Studies. From an early age, I developed a deep love for the ocean, driven by curiosity about the unseen aspects of marine ecosystems. I’m passionate about producing media that focuses on climate action, ocean policy, and the importance of the ocean in a way that is accessible to non-English speakers and individuals without science backgrounds. My goal is to help more people engage with environmental issues, regardless of their language or education.
UC Santa Cruz
Undergraduate Student
Prachiti Sabnis
Prachiti Sabnis is an undergraduate student at UC Santa Cruz, pursuing a degree in Environmental Science. Growing up, she frequently visited India, where she witnessed the poor air and water quality in major cities, sparking her interest in environmental issues. Prachiti is particularly focused on water quality and oceanography, with a specific interest in the marine environment around California. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue a PhD to further her research in the field.
2023-2024
Stanford University
Undergraduate Researcher
Plengrhambhai (Pleng) Snidvongs Kruesopon
Pleng Kruesopon is a Sophomore at Stanford University, majoring in International Relations and Environmental Justice. Born and raised in Thailand, she spent a lot of her time near the ocean and is an avid diver. In High School, she founded Care for Coral, an NGO that strives to preserve Thailand’s marine environment through direct conservation and plantation efforts of corals nationwide. She has worked with the Thai Department of Marine and Coastal Resources as a policy advocate and was awarded a Gold Ocean Conservationist medal from the Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. This summer she is a Stanford Earth Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SESUR) intern working out of the Crowder Lab at Hopkins Marine Station. When she’s not in the water, she enjoys hiking, reading, and playing the guitar with her family and friends.
Project Tasks: Web design, valuation framework literature review, semi-structured interview administration and transcription, qualitative data analysis
UC Santa Barbara
Graduate Researcher
Kennedy Flavin
Kennedy Flavin, a dedicated graduate from University of Utah, holding dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental & Sustainability Science and Political Science, with a focus on Air, Water, and Health, along with a minor in Earth Sciences. As a former member of the university's Sustainability Board, Kennedy organized engaging Climate Change Anxiety Discussions and passionately advocated for preserving Utah's precious gem, the Great Salt Lake. Her transformative internship experience with Save Our Canyons honed her skills in championing inclusive recreation and equal access to natural resources through innovative policies like "Transits to Trails." Kennedy now sets her sights on reaching greater heights by pursuing a Master's in Coastal Marine Resources Management at the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. This summer, she is working to advance her ultimate goal of having a tangible, positive impact on MPA planning processes as an intern at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Outside her academic pursuits, Kennedy finds solace and joy in the tranquility of the beaches, nurturing her passion for surfing, and also in yoga studios, where she seeks balance and inner peace.
Project Tasks: Environmental justice literature review, Bren School Project Manager
Stanford University
Undergraduate Researcher
Roya Meykadeh
Born and raised in San Francisco, Roya Meykadeh has had a deep love and respect for the ocean since she was a toddler, and finds herself at peace when by the water. She will be an incoming sophomore at Stanford University next year, and is planning on focusing her studies on issues surrounding sustainability, environmental engineering, and biological and ecological processes. Maintaining the health and vitality of our planet is a deep passion of hers, and she has conducted research on the impacts of ocean acidification on calcifying organisms, materials research on helium implanted surfaces within fusion energy reactors, and the impact of anthropogenic pollution on our intertidal zones to name a few. This summer Roya is a Stanford Wood's Mentoring Undergradutes in Interdisciplinary Research (MUIR) intern working out of the Crowder Lab at Hopkins Marine Station. Outside of her academic life, Roya enjoys rock music, adventuring to find local swimming holes, hikes, and camping :)
Project Tasks: Valuation framework literature review, semi-structured interview administration and transcription, qualitative data analysis, social media account management
Iowa State University
Undergraduate Researcher
Maryam Krauss
Maryam is a rising senior at Iowa State University, majoring in animal ecology with a focus on fisheries and aquatic science. Maryam's passion and interest for marine science and conservation stemmed from her upbringing in Malaysia and times spent on the local islands -- where she witnessed profound environmental apathy among coastal communities. This summer, Maryam is an Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF) intern at working out of the Crowder Lab at Hopkins Marine Station. During her free time, Maryam spends her time reading, drawing, or watching documentaries and sitcoms!
Project Tasks: Quantitative analysis of Instagram social media database (#bayareafishing), netnography to define and characterize different ocean user groups