Meet the Fellows
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Meet the current Coral Reef Management Fellows. Archives for previous fellowship terms and a news section are also available below. 
Carolyn Doherty
(AS 11-12) American Samoa Carolyn Doherty works with a variety of local agencies to ensure that American Samoa continues to pursue progressive actions in terms of climate change education and adaptation. Among other projects, she is currently completing a Territorial Climate Change Framework and developing a Community Resilience Planning Guide as a result of mandates generated from the recent, and very successful, Climate Change Summit in February, 2011.
Clare Shelton
(AS 10-11) Clare Shelton worked with the Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG) at the Department of Commerce in American Samoa where she assisted in the coordination and implementation of the Climate Change Local Action Strategy (LAS). This LAS addresses climate change impacts on the island. Clare also developed education and outreach materials aimed at increasing American Samoa's climate literacy. Outreach activities included school visits, public presentations, and a media campaign. In addition, Clare assisted in socioeconomic research efforts on climate change perceptions and threats. She also assisted with other CRAG projects, such as a school recycling campaign and promoting reusable cloth bags in the community. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
Aric Bickel
(CNMI 10-12) Aric Bickel is stationed in the non-point source pollution department of the Division of Environmental Quality in Saipan where he is leading the Conservation Action Planning (CAP) work being done in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy in the CNMI. This includes aiding in the implementation of the Laolao Bay CAP, for which planning was completed in 2008, as well as developing new CAPs to be completed on the island of Rota and in the Saipan lagoon watershed. Aric will also be heading the revegetation efforts in the Talakhaya watershed as well as aiding in the development of a bleaching response plan for the CNMI. In addition, he will be working with agency partners on a number of education and outreach projects promoting proper storm water drainage, recommended fish catch size, and community ocean watch groups. Florida 
Lauren Waters
(FL 10-12) Lauren Waters is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Coral Reef Conservation Program. In her position, she reviews and comments on permit applications for coastal construction projects, such as beach nourishment, that may have an adverse impact on coral reefs. Additionally, she is leading various working groups to complete projects that are part of the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Maritime Industry and Coastal Construction Impacts (MICCI) Local Action Strategy. Projects include developing a permit database to track the application review and comment process, developing training tools for permit reviewers and compliance personnel in various agencies, standardizing baseline monitoring requirements for construction permits, and exploring current agency protocols for responding to citizen reports of possible resource impacts or permit condition violations. Guam 
Tammy Jo A. Taft
(GU 10-12) Tammy Jo A. Taft is working as the Education and Outreach Coordinator with the Guam Coastal Management Program. As part of the Coastal Management Team, Tammy Jo helped educate the island's youth about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the pending military buildup on Guam. In addition, Tammy Jo is working to continue implementing the Guardians of the Reef Program. The Guardians are high school students that prepare and present lesson plans in every third grade classroom on Guam. Over the next two years, Tammy Jo will be creating materials that take scientific information about corals and make it digestible for the general public. She will also be coordinating the Environmental Education Committee and creating a program that sends biologists and naturalists to teach guests at beach barbecues. Hawai`i 
Lunalilo Kekoa
(HI 10-12) Kahekili, located on the leeward side of the island of Maui, has been designated as one of two Priority Coral Sites by the Hawaii Local Action Strategy coordinators. Working with the Division of Aquatic Resources, Lunalilo Kekoa helps to coordinate community-based projects in the area. In example, Lunalilo works with Makai Watch, a program where Hawai`i's coastal communities work directly with resource managers to conduct monitoring, outreach, and voluntary compliance activities. He also assists with other projects like fishermen creel surveys, which are conducted by local fishermen from the West Maui community to estimate anglers' catches via sampling and interviews. Lunalilo also assists in outreach and education about the Kahekili Herbivore Enhancement Area; the project aims to decrease the growing issue of invasive algae by prohibiting the harvest of three families of herbivores. In partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, the West Maui Watershed Project serves as a pilot project for modern Hawaiian watershed planning. The primary objective of this study will be to improve the quality of coral reefs and near shore waters by addressing necessary restoration or remedial actions throughout the entire watershed. Lunalilo will serve as a community liaison for this project and will focus on stakeholder involvement throughout the Feasibility phase of the Army Corps process. Puerto Rico 
Rina Hauptfeld
(PR 10-12) Rina Hauptfeld is working as a field agent with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources in Rincón, western Puerto Rico. As the Education Coordinator for the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve, she is partnering with several territorial and local agencies to implement the Tres Palmas Management Plan. Her efforts focus on developing and coordinating education and social marketing programs intended to increase interest in the status of the Reserve and local coral, the threats coral faces, as well as local opportunities to foster coral health. Programs will focus on addressing threats posed by land-based sources of pollution and physical damage from recreational use. Rina will also be conducting socio-economic surveys and will coordinate several campaigns, including a single-use plastics reduction campaign, an environmental film-shorts competition, the creation of a voluntary enforcement corps, and a citizen science program. U.S. Virgin Islands 
Marija Micuda
(USVI 10-12) Marija Micuda is working as a Sustainable Tourism Specialist for the St Croix East End Marine Park (STXEEMP) and St Thomas East End Reserve (STEER). Marija will work on developing sustainable tourism products and implementing marketing activities for the two areas. STXEEMP and STEER are at different stages of developing sustainable tourism and therefore have different needs. While STEER has tourism operators already active within its territories, it is looking for minor products to be added for generating additional revenue. STXEEMP; however, does not have many tour operators within its waters. This may allow for more elaborate long-term products to be implemented, engaging both locals and tourists. Common for both areas is that sustainable products should satisfy the triple bottom line (environmentally friendly, locally beneficial, and economically viable for STXEEMP and STEER). Therefore, the first steps towards implementing and launching such products includes engaging and educating local stakeholders and forming new partnerships.
Coral Fellowship Newsletter 
The Coral Fellowship Newsletter is a quarterly newsletter providing information about NOAA Coral Reef Management fellows and the fellowship program. This newsletter is published by the Coral Reef Conservation Program and celebrated its inaugural issue in January of 2008. It replaces Fellow News as the source of current events pertaining to the Coral Reef Management Fellowship.
*If you require this newsletter in another format, please contact us. Fellow News Fellow News is a quarterly newsletter providing information about NOAA fellows and fellowship programs. Between April 2006 and December 2007, the Coral Reef Management Fellowship was highlighted in each issue.
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