In 2022, REEF launched the Marine Conservation Fellow Program. The program replaces the Leadership Intern Program.
Current Marine Conservation Fellows
Katie Barnes - Communications and Engagement Fellow -- September 2022 - August 2023
Katie graduated from North Carolina State University in 2022 with a B.S. in Plant Biology and minors in Marine Science and Animal Science. She grew up in New Bern, North Carolina only 45 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, and loves being out on the water, either swimming, snorkeling, or just relaxing on a boat. She attended a service-learning trip in Key West, FL in high school, where she aided the Reef Relief organization in coral restoration. This experience first ignited her passion for marine conservation. Following this, she attended a semester-long program at NCSU’s Center for Marine Science and Technology in her junior year of college. This program fully immersed her in coastal and marine ecosystems through classes and research. Here, she received funding until she graduated to conduct an independent project on the Crystal Skipper, an endangered species in NC. As a creative outlet, Katie owns an Etsy shop where she sells digital and physical artwork. Combining her skills in science and art, she created club logos at NCSU and created visual research posters. These experiences proved vital to her career development as they gave her affirmation that marine conservation needed to be in her future career. Katie is excited to share her creative skills and passion for science to help make a difference at REEF!
Alexis Kuh
re Haag - Education and Outreach Fellow -- January - August 2023
Alexis graduated from Ohio University in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in specialized studies, combining environmental studies and sociology, and a geography minor. She was raised in a family of avid environmental activists, and has carried that instilled love of the environment to marine conservation. She was a counselor for a summer camp serving kids ages 6-11, where she planned activities and field trips to help them learn about environmental issues facing Appalachia, such as acid mine drainage. She became more focused on marine conservation while visiting Forfar Field Station on Andros Island in The Bahamas on two occasions - a weeklong program in with her university, and the second a six-week program the following summer, where she earned certifications like Wilderness First Aid, Sea Kayaking, PADI Advanced Open Water, and Leave No Trace. In college, she served as the Ohio University Student Director for the Sugar Bush Foundation, an organization that helps the local community and Ohio University by funding projects to promote sustainable development in Southeastern Ohio and Appalachia. She has also worked with Zero Waste Event Productions, helping to divert waste at large festivals and events in the region. She also worked with Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability, where she shared information about how students can become involved with the Sustainability Ambassadors, a campus student organization. She was a Marine Conservation Intern at REEF during the Fall 2022 semester, and is so excited to continue her journey at REEF in 2023!
Dylan Heppell - Conservation Science Fellow -- January - December 2023
Dylan graduated from Oregon State University in the spring of 2022 with an Honors B.S. in environmental sciences with a specialization in aquatic biology. He loves everything related to the ocean, and being in, on, or near the water. Dylan grew up with two marine biologists for parents so his love for the ocean was engrained at an early age. He is returning to Key Largo after having spent a month at REEF in 2019 working with Dr. Alli Candelmo on the Invasive Species Program. Dylan is thrilled to be able to now spend an entire year in the Keys as a Fellow at REEF. He became a certified diver during a family vacation in Hawaii in 2017, and since then he has completed his advanced open water, rescue diver, and nitrox certifications through OSU. In the summer of 2021, Dylan worked as an intern at Pacific Seafood Group on freshwater conservation projects in their shrimp processing operations. His ideas, presented to the heads of the company, have the potential to save 35 million gallons of water each year at the Pacific Shrimp processor in Newport, Oregon. In 2022, Dylan had the opportunity to join the REEF Grouper Moon team in the Cayman Islands, where he assisted with logistics like camera and equipment management, and data collection on the aggregation site. In his free time, Dylan enjoys hiking, sports (especially soccer), diving, and fishing. He is very excited to start his Fellowship at REEF and help to advance their conservation science work!
Past Marine Conservation Fellows
Summer Huber - Conservation Science Fellow -- May 2021-September 2022
Summer graduated from Purdue University in December 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While in college, she conducted research on the effects of microplastics on several zooplankton and fish species in the Hook Fish Ecology Lab. She attended a study abroad trip in Belize where she learned the principles of lionfish collection and dissection, explored ancient Mayan ruins, and conducted marine conservation projects. Summer started with REEF in January 2021 as a Marine Conservation Intern. During her internship she planned an ocean-themed paint and sip event, coordinated lionfish derby registration, and completed her PADI Rescue Diver certification. Summer has many roles as the Conservation Science Lead Intern: she works with other program leads to support to Invasive Species Program projects and events; she participates in conservation science research efforts; and she acts as an internship leader for current Marine Conservation Interns. In the future, Summer plans to attend graduate school and study marine biology and ecology. She is thankful for the opportunity to be a Fellow with REEF, and is ready to continue advocating for marine life, participating in outreach events, and coordinating the Lionfish Derby Series.
Maddie Brownfield - Education and Outreach Fellow -- September 2021 - August 2022
Maddie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in May 2021 from the University of Missouri. In college, she developed a love for marine conservation and diving, even in the murky lakes of the midwest. After spending a few weeks in Thailand her junior year, assisting with the restoration of coral reefs and learning about marine ecology, she knew this was the field for her. Maddie joined the REEF intern team in May 2021. As a Marine Conservation Intern, Maddie mixed her love of videography with educational outreach and worked on developing a series of promotional videos for REEF. As the Education and Outreach Lead Intern, Maddie will be assisting in coordinating and teaching educational programs and workshops at the REEF campus, offsite, and virtually. She will also be working to promote REEF through outreach events such as Into The Blue Book Club and on various social media platforms. Maddie is thrilled to be stepping into this role and is excited to continue exploring her creative skills, love of working with people, and passion for marine conservation.