Four recent college graduates have been awarded one-year marine education fellowships with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Funded by Georgia Sea Grant, the fellows will serve as educators for students, teachers and the general public.

Over the course of their fellowship, they will gain experience in marine science education, husbandry, program development and volunteer coordination. They will also be offered a variety of professional development opportunities and will be exposed to community outreach events that may involve judging science fair projects, teaching science nights at local schools and participating in events like CoastFest and Skidaway Marine Science Day.

The fellows began their training in early September, experiencing crash courses on how to teach over 40 field, lab and lecture classes that are offered to visiting school groups throughout the year.

The 2019-20 Marine Education Fellows are:

Rachel Wilson, from Richmond, Virginia, graduated from the College of William and Mary with an interdisciplinary degree in mathematical biology and a minor in marine science. Prior to this position, she conducted research on oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Wilson is excited to work alongside the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant team, explore all that the Georgia coast has to offer and share her passion for marine systems with students.Kimberly Donoghue, from southern Maine, graduated from the University of New England with a bachelor’s degree in marine science and a double minor in chemistry and biophysics. She has been fascinated with the ocean ever since she was a young girl doing beach cleanups and volunteering on whale watching boats. She hopes to spark this same curiosity and excitement in others by teaching visitors about the wonders and importance of the ocean.