Sassano is a marine educator and intern coordinator for UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. She facilitates k-12 educational programming focused on coastal ecology and marine science for visiting groups to the aquarium. Sassano’s special area of work for Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is overseeing the marine education fellows and summer interns, coordinating their schedules, providing them with appropriate feedback and training, and acting as a mentor to support growth in their careers.

Originally from the “Jersey shore,” Sassano has always had an interest in the marine environment and education. Prior to her work with the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, she worked for MarineQuest at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where she assisted in educational program facilitation and coordinated student interns, volunteers, and ongoing research projects. She has also served with AmeriCorps, worked as a naturalist at a forestry center, and conducted field research studying sea nettle jellyfish.

Sassano’s favorite part of her job at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is sharing experiences with interns and fellows and helping them get started in their own careers.