Ocean Science Education and Outreach Testimony to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Commission, and Staff... it is an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to discuss ocean sciences education and outreach with you this morning. For nearly three decades, I have been working at the “grass roots” level with both preK-12 teachers and students and for the last 15 years I have had the added opportunity to work with the general public about global climate change, ocean sciences, and coastal processes—across all disciplines. It is also noteworthy to mention that I am a Past-President of the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) and the Mississippi Science Teachers Association. And, I have been the Education Chair for the Marine Technology Society for the last nine years. I also served on a one-year Interagency Governmental Personnel Act as the Director of Education for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program.