The pursuit of a more connected sustainable future
What started as young girl shaped by the ocean turned into a life dedicated to preserving it, while educating and creating community wherever she goes.
Marine Biologist Environmental Educator Storyteller
My path into marine science and conservation was shaped by both love and urgency. A love for the ocean, for the natural world, and for the communities and ecosystems that depend on it. And an urgency that grew stronger the more I learned about the environmental challenges facing our planet.
As I pursued my education, the realities of climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, and declining marine ecosystems became impossible to ignore. What once felt distant became deeply personal. I began volunteering within environmental organizations, engaging with my local community, and searching for ways to contribute meaningfully to solutions larger than myself.
Over time, travel broadened my perspective even further. Visiting places throughout Southeast Asia, Central America, and beyond exposed me to the direct impacts environmental degradation has on both ecosystems and human life. Beautiful coastlines overwhelmed by plastic pollution, coral reefs struggling to survive, and communities adapting to conditions that had become normalized through constant exposure. These experiences changed me. They reinforced the understanding that environmental issues are not isolated problems. They are deeply interconnected with people, education, access, and collective responsibility.
My undergraduate research on microplastics further deepened this awareness and strengthened my commitment to environmental stewardship. Through both science and lived experience, I began to understand the importance of combining education, action, and community engagement in order to create meaningful change.
That belief ultimately led me into marine science education, where I had the opportunity to connect students directly to the ocean through field experiences, conservation initiatives, environmental outreach, and hands-on learning. Watching students develop curiosity, connection, and care for marine ecosystems showed me how powerful experience can be in shaping perspective and inspiring action.
Today, my goal is to continue expanding that impact beyond the classroom and further into the field through coral reef restoration, conservation, research, and environmental storytelling. I want to contribute not only through education and outreach, but also through hands-on restoration work and active participation in protecting marine ecosystems at the source.
I believe one of the greatest threats facing our planet is the assumption that someone else will save it. Real change is built collectively, through action, responsibility, and people willing to participate in creating a better future. My intention is to be part of that effort in every way I can.
The ocean has always been my home. It’s the very thing my parents chased when they moved from New York to Florida. Having been born in Puerto Rico, the Florida coastline provided great similarities to the island life. You could say it’s in my blood or you could say I was inspired by my surroundings. Whichever it was, nurture or nature, the ocean has been all I’ve known.
From a young girl, my father was determined to teach me everything he knew, which typically revolved around the ocean. How to swim, how to fish, how to change a tire; he helped me cultivate a healthy relationship between receiving and giving to the ocean.
Where I Come From
