Meet the People behind the SWMS Steering Committee!
The SWMS Steering Committee is made up of early career women in marine science from across the United States! In addition to putting together webinars, helping our chapters get work done at the grassroots level, and managing everything that comes with being a non-profit - all on top of our day jobs - we are people first! Below, our Steering Committee shares their journeys and experiences that led them to join SWMS.
Tricia Thibodeau (she/hers) - President
I didn’t realize I wanted to be a marine scientist until I was in college and once I took an oceanography class I was totally hooked. The course was taught by an established woman oceanographer, which I think also helped me see marine science as a viable career for myself right from the get-go. It also inspired me to become a professor at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI), in which I started an Assistant Professor position at the University of New England in Maine last year. As an undergraduate at a PUI, I had the opportunity to do research with my oceanography professor the summer of my first-year and I wanted to pay these marine science research opportunities forward to the next generation of students.
Something that people may not know about me is that I’ve been to Antarctica 5 times accumulating over 150 days at sea! My PhD research centered on understanding the effects of climate change on zooplankton in Antarctica, and I got to participate on an annual 30-day research cruise every year of my PhD. My experiences on ships has also been a reason I’ve been passionate about being part of SWMS because I want SWMS to serve as a network and support community, as well as a resource, for those who have experienced harassment at sea or want to develop tools for preventing it. I got my start with SWMS back in 2017 when I was doing my PhD at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and decided to start at SWMS chapter with another female PhD student and faculty member. I then joined the national SWMS organization as Vice President during my postdoc in 2021 and became the President a year after that.
Trish Albano (she/her) - Vice President
Born and raised in South Florida, I grew up learning about the wonders of the ocean, but also gained a healthy respect for it from a very young age. During the summers in college at the University of Miami, I tried to gain more experience that was relevant to my interests, taking jobs at a marine science summer camp and in a research lab at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School. After graduating, my first full-time position was with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation where I worked in support of NOAA Ocean Exploration's Outreach & Education division as Internship Program Coordinator. After a couple of years working in the education side of ocean exploration, I started missing my science roots and applied for my current position as an Expedition Coordinator with NOAA Ocean Exploration. In my role, I work with an outstanding team to plan and lead deep ocean exploration expeditions with NOAA Ocean Exploration, collaborating with the scientific community and other stakeholders to co-develop exploration missions to areas of the ocean that we know little about, collecting data to better understand these areas, and making these data publicly accessible. Before joining the deep ocean exploration community, my research focused on evaluating the efficacy of marine protected areas as conservation management tools for vulnerable ecosystems and species, specifically elasmobranchs. I am also very passionate about outreach, education, and engaging with local communities. Outside of work, I love traveling to new places, photography, cooking, camping, hiking, or paddle boarding with my rescue pup, Mahi! Something most people don't know about me is that my favorite animal is a goat, despite having spent many years working with ocean critters. I was so excited to join the SWMS Steering Committee because I have been fortunate to work with the most incredible women, some of whom have become my best friends. Through SWMS, I get to promote the visibility of women in our field and be part of a community that celebrates women's success!
Ashley Cohen - Treasurer
I was a paleontologist and chemistry enthusiast when I started my Masters Degree in Geosciences. But, then I took a chemical oceanography course in the Marine Sciences department and was blown away by the Paleo-Oceanography section, especially applications of trace metals and biomarkers to study today’s biological pump and interpret past environments. I spoke to the lecturer and completed my thesis project in her lab. During that time, I realized that microbes were a major part of the geochemistry story, especially for the large span of geological history when the oceans had no oxygen. So, for my Ph. D. in Marine Sciences I took a holistic research approach combining geochemistry and microbiology in a microbial ecology lab. During the COVID19 pandemic, I became interested in and learned applications of deep learning to microbiology. Shortly after, high-impact studies were published regarding large language models’ applications to microbial ecology and biotechnology, which got me interested in learning this more complex type of deep learning. Fortunately, there was a call for a research fellowship at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for this type of work. I was sold! Outside of my 9-5, I destress by lifting weights, hiking and running, and puzzle-solving, and tap into my creative side by painting, writing poetry, baking, crocheting, and playing the drums. I was motivated to join the SWMS steering committee because of my experience at a SWMS meeting during my Ph. D. There was so much camaraderie, support, and positivity- it felt like a community where I belonged. I also appreciated their efforts to provide funding opportunities, because I needed such opportunities to get to where I wanted to go in my career. Now, I want the opportunity to help others, whether that be as a mentor, a cheerleader, or financially.
Katie Gallagher (she/her) - Communications Lead
I have wanted to be a marine biologist since I was in 6th grade. I went to a marine science summer camp at Project Oceanology on University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus. Day one, I came home covered in salt water and mud and I was hooked. Fast forward several years, and I have a PhD in oceanography from the University of Delaware, where I got my start with SWMS, and now I am a postdoc at Stony Brook University. I still love doing research but I have trained my salt water stained clothes for R code. My research interests, for the most part, have remained the same - I am broadly interested in the biological and physical processes that drive animal biogeography.
I’m still slowly learning how to be a person beyond my work, as I’m sure many of us are. However, over the past few years, I have gotten back into reading my fantasy novels, and recently started a re-read of an old favorite - The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. I have also been playing Dungeons and Dragons for the past three years with a friend from graduate school and recently finished my first play through of Balder’s Gate 3.
I first got started with SWMS in graduate school, where I joined the newly-minted University of Delaware chapter. I eventually joined the leadership team within the chapter and helped plan the 2019 Symposium at Horn Point. Like many others, the UD SWMS chapters went dormant during the pandemic, so I lost touch with SWMS for a little while until I came to Stony Brook. Starting as a postdoc was hard, especially in an ecology-focused lab instead of a marine science one, and I craved the community we had built in our SWMS chapter. I joined the SWMS chapter at Stony Brook, and soon thereafter joined the Steering Committee to help to start to rebuild this wonderful community that we have.
Tia Ouyang (she/her/hers) - Mentorship Co-Chair
Hello! I am Tia, a doctoral student majoring in chemical oceanography at the University of Delaware. My research experiences, investigating saltwater intrusion in the Chesapeake Bay, inspire my interests in chemical cycles in coastal oceans and motivate me to apply for graduate school with a focus on ocean-related studies. Beyond academics, I am actively involved as a citizen member of the Center for the Inland Bay, participating in outreach activities to educate citizens about marine sciences and promote the protection of natural resources in response to citizen concerns.The mission of SWMS, which aims to eliminate gender bias and promote diversity in marine science fields, has motivated me to become a chapter member and eventually be promoted to the steering committee. I take pride in being a woman scientist and look forward to challenging stereotypes about what a scientist looks like, working together to showcase the power of women.
Breanna Vanderplow (she/her) - Mentorship Co-Chair
My love for the ocean was established at a young age, despite living in the Midwest, through my dad’s passion for it. He showed me endless documentaries and we watched Shark Week each year, leaving me yearning to experience and better understand the ocean. This eventually led me to move from Wisconsin to Florida to pursue this dream, which I have worked towards through obtaining my PhD in Oceanography, managing an oceanographic research lab, and most recently working for NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System Office. While I never had a specific career goal or specialty in mind, I always knew that I loved a few things: the mystery of the ocean, gaining knowledge and understanding of the world around me, and communicating science in a way that makes non-scientists understand and care about it. The openness I have had has led to many wonderful opportunities in my education and career thus far. One of the most inspiring parts of my experience in ocean science so far has been the opportunity to travel and learn about different cultures and research efforts around the world, as well as meet students and scientists from a variety of backgrounds and research specialties. Traveling has impacted me as an individual but also as an ocean scientist, encouraging growth, passion, and empathy in my career and relationships. I was recently introduced to SWMS, and I quickly fell in love with the organization and the community, and I am looking forward to connecting with more people through my involvement in the steering committee.
Kayle Krieg (she/her) - Chapter Co-Liaison
I grew up in the desert, so the ocean was this big abstract fascinating entity to me. It is so cliché but I really wanted to be a “marine biologist” since 4th grade when I did a book report on sea urchins and thought—how in the world does a creature like this live on the same planet that I do?? Fast forward several decades, and I was not a marine biologist. I had held many jobs: busser, server, bartender, line cook, call center agent, data entry, magazine delivery, jewelry salesperson, I even started my own green-cleaning business at one point. Finally, I was working as a leasing agent at a student housing community and decided to go back to school after hearing all the excited students beginning University, and hearing all the fun majors and cool aspirations they would talk about. It also struck me that I wanted to be able to tell my own kids that they could pursue any dream they wanted to, but realized that I didn’t, and worried they would not believe me. So, I completed a BS in environmental science, MS in natural resources (focus on fisheries conservation and management) and finally PhD in marine, estuarine & environmental science.
I joined the SWMS steering committee because there was not a chapter in my University, and with a small program I was not sure we had the capacity to begin or sustain one. I had attended a couple fun SWMS events such as the HPL symposium, evening social event at Ocean Science Meeting and kept up with the organization and some cool chapters on social media (RIP #scitwitter) and thought these are the folks I want to hang out with! I reached out to the general email address and ended up chatting with Tricia and joining as a chapter co-liaison. Currently, I am working as a coastal climate specialist with the University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program, where I am focusing on climate resilience in coastal communities, through climate education and outreach.
One thing you may not know about me is I am on a bowling team, and we have even won a few of the leagues we have played in (Go Beastie Balls!). In my spare time, I try to keep up with my 4 kids and husband, read, binge Netflix shows, and dream about traveling everywhere. If you ever want to talk about community ecology, fish, climate, coastal resilience, science equity, indigenous research methods, non-traditional career paths, being a “sci-mom”, or basically anything nerdy and water related I am open! I’m also always open to book and Netflix recommendations!!
Mercedes Pinzon - Chapter Co-Liaison
I've been driven through the marine sciences by an unwavering commitment to environmental conservation and a desire to make meaningful changes in my community and beyond. From a young age, I found myself drawn to the beauty of nature and the urgent need to protect it. I actively engaged in environmental initiatives participating in community cleanups and educational programs.
Formally, my academic journey began with studies in Marine Biology in Panama, where I participated in volunteer activities centered on sea turtle and mangrove ecosystem conservation. Transitioning to the United States for my undergraduate studies in Coastal Environmental Sciences at LSU, I deepened my commitment to environmental action through research projects and involvement in student organizations, focusing particularly on the impacts of climate change on coastal wetlands. This dedication earned me opportunities for graduate studies, first pursuing a master's in Oceanography at LSU and then a consecutive PhD in Biology at the University of Central Florida, driven by my passion for wetland biogeochemistry and water quality management.
One aspect that people might not know about me is my involvement in international climate negotiations, where I represented Panama as a young negotiator at the Conference of the Parties (COP28). This experience broadened my perspective on global climate adaptation and reinforced my dedication to driving positive change on both local and global scales.
Outside of my academic pursuits, I find joy in connecting with nature through outdoor activities such as exploring wetlands, hiking, and community expeditions. Additionally, I enjoy reading, traveling, meditating, and exercising to maintain balance and well-being.
Motivated by a commitment to collaboration and impactful change, I joined SWMS and the Steering Committee as a chapter co-liaison. Through these platforms, I aim to leverage my expertise and experiences to inspire others and contribute to a more sustainable future for our oceans and coastal communities.
Megan Howson (she/her) - Clerk
Working as a marine biologist has always been my dream. I was a toddler who would walk around singing ‘Baby Beluga’ and telling everyone when I grew up, I wanted to talk to dolphins. Summer holidays at the beach were spent dragging my parents or cousins from tidepool to tidepool. I attended University of Miami as part of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, which gave me such great exposure to so many different fields in marine science, and an internship with the Namibian Dolphin Project solidified my passion for studying cetaceans. I continued to pursue this dream through grad school at Texas A&M Galveston, and landed my first job studying cetaceans in Monterey Bay, California.
In so many ways this was an absolute dream, and it felt like all my hard work and long hours of studying were finally paying off. Then, like for so many people, COVID hit, and I was laid off. I was fortunate enough to find a temporary position teaching high schoolers. What I had thought would be a short-term foray into education lasted much longer than planned. Three years later, I was still teaching and beginning to lose hope of breaking back into the marine science field. I decided to switch focus, one of the aspects of research I had enjoyed was trying to find patterns in the data collected, maybe data science was a good career change for me. While many of the programs used and skill sets are similar between data science and marine science, it is difficult to make it past job application filters with a marine biology degree, so I enrolled in a data science certification program. One of my friends from undergrad was a huge help during this time (Thanks Trish!). She suggested I look into SWMS and would always give me a heads up for any job opportunities, as well as references when she could.
Just as I had given up on marine biology, a listing posted for a marine mammal biologist and data scientist. If there ever was a job description written tailored to me, this was it. I was lucky enough to land the position, helped in part by some of the tips given during a SWMS seminar on the job application process. Marine biology is such a difficult field to break into, and the advantages that come from networking and support from those established in the field are so important. SWMS helped me keep my dream of being a marine biologist alive, and it’s something I would like to pass forward. When not living my dream of working as a marine biologist, you can still find me on the water. I love to swim, surf, dive, or anything else that gets me off land and into the sea (or lake or river). I also love to travel, and try new recipes from wherever my travels take me.