Katie O'Donnell Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California, United States

I lead the data team for Oceana’s Illegal Fishing and Transparency campaign. This team completes data requests and analyses from all of Oceana’s campaigns in all domestic and international offices. I manage all of our requests, ensure proper QA/QC is followed throughout our processes, complete analyses, track and report progress for all our projects, research fisheries and ocean conservation, strengthen communications to all our offices about data, and write and review reports, fact sheets, blogs, presentations and other written products. In this role, I predominantly work with large complex data from automatic identification system devices that are visible on Global Fishing Watch. I’ve analyzed this data to support my campaign’s work to increase transparency to deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, but also have provided analyses to support Oceana campaigns to protect endangered species, increase protected areas (like Bajos del Norte National Park), stop offshore drilling, and more!

Remote

In the wake of graduating from Duke University, I created a small business to share my passion for the ocean while communicating to broad audiences through art and encouraging community engagement in marine conservation issues (including sustainable fisheries).Through this role, I wore many hats as I independently operated, coordinated, and organized all projects. I ensured the timely completion of project objectives and required deliverables while successfully prioritizing tasks, managing budgets, and tracking deliverables.This role was a part-time endeavor, but I participated in some exciting opportunities. This includes my creation of a two-canvas art piece of salmon species that was featured in the 2021 11th Biennial Bay-Delta Science Virtual Conference’s Art-Science collaboration exhibits.I regularly utilized research skills to learn more about my painting subjects so that I can accurately communicate about the piece. Thus, I also used excellent written and verbal communication on social media accounts and through website content.

Remote

I led the development of 14 iNaturalist projects to share records of marine organisms observed at sites in the MarineGEO network worldwide. This created a publicly available, comprehensive, illustrated list of local fauna and flora of MarineGEO partner sites and contributes to community knowledge of marine and coastal organisms.Additionally, I served as the primary contact for the iNaturalist projects. As the primary contact, I regularly coordinated, collaborated, and communicated with MarineGEO affiliated scientists, researchers, experts, and community members around the world. I managed multiple projects and stakeholders, met necessary deadlines, and coordinated concurrent tasks from a variety of staff with minimal supervision. Lastly, I coordinated, processed, and managed large amounts of marine biodiversity data while meeting data quality and control standards. I utilized quantitative and computer skills to manage multiple data sets and track progress of each project. This required me to maintain a strong attention to detail throughout my work to ensure quality and consistency.

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States And San Salvador Island, The Bahamas

During the summer of 2019, I taught an intensive "Intro to Marine Biology" 2-credit college field course in the Bahamas to groups of high schoolers. In this role, I worked closely with two other instructors and students to meet strict deadlines and educational goals in short periods (21 days for each course). I also handled logistics and prioritized tasks while balancing multiple projects.Additionally, I coordinated with technical and administrative support locally and abroad (Bahamas, North Carolina) during this course. I also prepared and implemented strategic lesson plans, exams, evaluations, end-of-session reports, and presentations.

Beaufort, Nc

I promoted and managed all social media accounts of the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) Project for the MGEL lab to increase awareness of research to policymakers and general public. I also managed the "Current Events and Science Publications" page. I remotely led our correspondences and developed content for the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) consortium project that launched its tool at the United Nation’s Second Intergovernmental Conference on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction in April 2019.

Durham And Beaufort, Nc

I earned my Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University's Nicolas School of the Environment. This two-year program gave me the unique opportunity to take many science and social science courses that honed my skills in research and communication. With a concentration in Coastal Environmental Management, I took courses in Marine Fisheries Biogeography & Ecology, Marine Policy, Political Ecology, Social Impact Analysis, Marine Ecology, Community-Based Marine Conservation, etc. I completed individual and group projects that required research, writing, editing, coordination, and technical skills. These projects involved sustainable seafood, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, plastics in seafood, environmental justice issues, deep sea science and management, shark conservation, and many other related topics.I also completed my Master’s Project which is titled “Shark Week and Public Perceptions of Sharks”. Through this project, I was given the opportunity to work with the Conservation Research team at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and successfully secured the necessary funding through the Edna Bailey Sussman fund. This was an invaluable experience that taught me much about big data mining, data organization, and sentiment analysis research for shark conservation.

Monterey, Ca

I worked with the Shark Research team in the Conservation Research Science department to assess public attitudes toward shark conservation. This was an ongoing research project that was also my Master's Project which was completed in spring 2019. In a short amount of time, I successfully learned and applied skills in data scraping, large data management, R, and sentiment analysis. This research has implications for shark conservation policies, as well as for effective communication and outreach of the many issues that sharks are challenged with.

Catalina Island Marine Institute At Toyon Bay

As a marine instructor, I taught marine science to students through customized lesson plans, labs, snorkels (day and night), kayaks, and hikes to ensure their understanding of the ocean and its importance, while also providing a safe, memorable and lasting experience. I tailored my lesson plans to the level of my students and would quickly react to “teachable moments” whenever we encountered wildlife or entered a new ecosystem. I loved being able to share my love for the ocean and sharpen my skills in communication and outreach. I also managed the maintenance, care, and design of exhibit animals and aquariums with an aquarist leadership team of four. I helped design and implemented a new layout for the invertebrate lab building which improved the space for experiential learning and education.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute In Front Royal, Va

Designed and implemented various experiential educational programs and experiential learning projects covering topics including ocean acidification, global climate change, and forestry pathogensCoordinated and collaborated with the animal care staff and scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute during tours of endangered species enclosures for the students while following strict facility procedures and protocolsFacilitated students’ participation in several citizen science projects including pollinator and invasive species removal projects with local wildlife organizations and National Park Service

Malibu, Ca

I designed and implemented various experiential educational programs including botany, tidepool ecology, astronomy, and water conservation for 6th grade students.Additionally, I mentored and trained high school camp counselors to become successful future environmental educators.

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute In Front Royal, Va

Big Pine Key, Fl

Led group environmental outreach program activities and dynamic educational labs, snorkels, walks, and kayaks to explore local flora and fauna. Utilized scientific equipment and collection gear including seining, sieving, long lines, fishing rods, etc.Communicated, coordinated, designed, and implemented a client’s schedule with the head chaperone of a school to ensure all educational goals were met during their tripCompleted an independent research report that aligned the educational programs at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute with several different statewide educational standards

Master'S Degree, Environmental Management (Coastal Environmental Management Concentration)

B.S. In Biology

Study Abroad Program, Biology, General

Attended Flinders University for one semester as a part of a study abroad exchange program at James Madison University (JMU). Completed.