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OR&R Welcomes Four Interns to Support Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
NOV. 12, 2024 — The NOAA Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) welcomed four interns from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES): Jalynn Aaron and Kayla Brown, both majoring in psychology, and Mikaela Blackwood and Amari Dupree, both majoring in biology. From this November 2024 through April 2025, interns will remotely support OR&R’s Assessment and Restoration Division with work on natural resource damage assessment and restoration. Each week, interns will dedicate a few hours to gaining insights into OR&R’s mission and functions and to exploring career opportunities within NOAA.
The internship program partnership with UMES, funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, began in 2021. That September, OR&R welcomed the first cohort of UMES interns who supported natural resource damage assessment and restoration communication efforts, cataloged potential marine debris from coastal flooding, and developed social media content, among other projects. Interns also attended workshops on OR&R’s work and career guidance. With the addition of four new interns this month, OR&R will have hosted a total of 12 interns from the UMES.
This program offers students real-world experience in a federal agency, while connecting them with professionals in the field who serve as mentors and advocates. In return, these students bring valuable perspectives to OR&R’s work.