Andrew Mason joined the team as the Pacific Northwest Regional Coordinator. He will also be serving as the West Coast Regional Coordinators Team Lead. As Regional Coordinator, Andrew represents the program in the region, and works with agencies, NGO, industry, and academia on a variety of projects and initiatives to identify, research, prevent, assess, and remove marine debris. He has worked for NOAA’s National Ocean Service since 2002, and specialized in conducting chemical contaminant assessments in almost every US coastal region, including the Great Lakes and US territories.

Ashely Hill joined the team as the Florida and Caribbean Regional Coordinator. Before joining the MDP, Ashley managed Mote Marine Laboratory’s Boca Grande Outreach Office, where she supported research initiatives, hosted educational events, and fostered partnerships with local organizations on the island. She has also volunteered with the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association for several years. Each day, while walking the same 1-mile stretch of beach, Ashley created a photo-series of collected trash, entitled “Turtles, Treasures & Trash, oh my!”. The photo-series was used in print and social media to raise awareness of the marine debris issue to both local residents and visiting tourists.

Amanda Dwyer joined the team as the new Sea Grant Knauss Fellow. The Knauss Fellowship provides a unique, educational, and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources, and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Amanda will focus on a new initiative to reduce waste throughout NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) offices.

For more information, please contact MaryLee.Haughwout@noaa.gov.

Return to OR&R Weekly.