Sustainable Energy/Community Development Fellow, Blue Lake Rancheria

Ysabelle is working with the Sustainability and Community Development Department at Blue Lake Rancheria, a federally recognized Tribe in Northern California. Her educational background includes a B.S. in Biology from the University of Toledo and M.S. in Environment and Sustainability from the University of Michigan. Ysabelle’s recent work has focused on regional coalition building on water resources management in the United Nations Obtawaing Biosphere Region of Northern Michigan. She would like to continue to strengthen efforts toward regional, equitable, climate resilience as a program or project manager that collaborates with community partners, researchers, and decision-makers. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, as well as trying new restaurants or hiking trails.

NOAA West Coast Aquaculture Fellow, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service - West Coast Region

Suzie O’Neill (she/they) works with the Aquaculture Team at NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region and is based in Seattle, Washington. Suzie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Geophysics from Brown University and an Occupational Endorsement in Alaskan Aquaculture from the University of Alaska Southeast. While in Alaska, Suzie interned at a local salmon hatchery, grew three species of native kelp on a research farm, and developed a regional distribution map of marine invasive species using ArcGIS. As a WCOA Fellow at NOAA, Suzie will strengthen their skills in project management and inter-organizational collaboration by assisting with the development of a state-wide aquaculture plan in Oregon. They hope to contribute to sustainable, equity-oriented marine planning decisions in this fellowship and in future positions. Outside of work, Suzie plays the drums and enjoys bringing friends together to make music.

GIS Content Creator, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Offshore Wind Team, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service - Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Avery will be working to support and inform offshore wind energy development on the west coast by developing map content, creating spatial outreach materials, and generating new and updated spatial datasets. She hopes to further the connectivity and availability of ocean data to better inform policy development and resource management. Avery has a bachelor's degree in Marine Science from California State University, Monterey Bay, and a Master's in Biology from the University of Oregon. Her undergraduate thesis focused on modeling the distribution of endangered butterflies on the central California coast, and her graduate work examined habitat preference of gastropods at methane seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. Avery specializes in GIS, spatial ecology, and conservation in both marine and terrestrial environments. In her free time, Avery enjoys nature photography, scientific illustration, and exploring the Oregon coast for interesting rocks.

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Offshore Wind Team Support Lead, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service - West Coast Region

Carina Burroughs has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Affairs and Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami and a master’s degree in Coastal and Marine Resource Management from the University of Akureyri/University Centre of the Westfjords. Her graduate research focused on social and ecological changes in the coral reef ecosystem at Islas Marietas National Park in the Central Mexican Pacific. Carina's past professional experience includes working as a scientific diver at an environmental science consulting company and serving as the program coordinator for a renewable energy course in Iceland. She is interested in the development of policies and planning that support both healthy marine ecosystems and the needs of coastal communities, and looks forward to contributing to this field in her role as a WCOA fellow. In her free time she enjoys hiking, running, and scuba diving.