Kerri Allen Email & Phone Number

Wrightsville Beach, Nc

The North Carolina Coastal Federation is a member-supported 501(c)3 that is focused on protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast. Created to give a united voice to the need for long-term coastal management, the Federation remains a collaborative, grassroots organization at its heart and brings together traditional and nontraditional organizations, government agencies, and businesses in order to achieve what is best for the North Carolina coast and to leave a legacy of clean water for future generations.As Coastal Advocate, I represent the Federation’s stance on key issues and work to represent the coast at local, state, and federal levels to ensure that actions are taken to safeguard North Carolina’s water quality, coastal environment, and economy. A registered lobbyist, I lead the Federation’s Advocacy and Policy initiatives and work to seek laws, rules, appropriations, policies and permit decisions that are aligned with the Federation’s goals and benchmarks.www.nccoast.org

Melbourne, Florida Area

As a geological oceanography doctoral student in the Coastal Processes research lab, I use Geographic Information Systems software to map and track sediment movement along Florida Beaches, as well as assist in field studies along the southern and central coasts of Florida to evaluate effectiveness of nearshore berm structures placed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) is a nonprofit organization whose members are dedicated to making the public more aware of Florida’s fragile coastline through education. The major role of FMSEA is to provide a medium for the exchange of ideas, information and resources among Florida’s marine educators.As Regional Director of Southeast Florida, I cover Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties.

Juno Beach, Florida

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a non-profit sea turtle education, research, and rehabilitation facility located in Juno Beach, Florida. Our mission is to promote conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. To help accomplish this goal, LMC offers extensive education programming at the facility, which boasts 300,000 visitors annually.As Education Manager, I work to build relationships with community partners, including the Cultural Education Council, Palm Beach County School District, Resources in Science Education and local foundations, which have allowed LMC to expand its audience by over 150% in less than two years. I develop and implement curriculum based on up-to-date Florida and NGSS educational standards, highlighting LMC’s mission of promoting the conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on endangered sea turtles, while overseeing department staff, budgets, and training. I am the lead on grant and foundation proposals to expand LMC education programming. Extramural funding has allowed LMC to increase the number of free programs for Title 1 school children, create a Marine Science Academy for local high school students, and reach over 16,000 at risk K-12 youth in Palm Beach County, annually.

Coastal Hydrology & Sedimentology Lab

I design, coordinate, and execute field studies, including all logistics involved in leading and managing a research team. Examples of field studies include: estuarine sediment mapping on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; oyster reef restoration and flow analyses behind Masonboro Island NERR, water quality monitoring on the Lower Cape Fear River, and hydrological and sediment analyses in numerous barrier beach and estuarine settings. I manage the lab (e.g. equipment calibration, permits, supplies, maintain facilities, implement new technology) and train faculty, students, and staff on the use and operation of field and laboratory instruments such as water quality sondes, Trimble R8/5800 RTK receiver/survey controller, and the particle analyzer.As a Research Assistant for the Coastal Ocean Research & Monitoring Program (CORMP), I create informational materials and signage for the general public that highlight the use of HF Radar in science, policy, and public safety/marine operations, as well as develop NC Climate Change curriculum for local summer science programs.

Hawai’Ian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

In 2010, I was awarded the NOAA Hollings Scholarship and was posted to the Hawai’ian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kihei, Hawai'i. Here, I worked with sanctuary staff to facilitate, design, and implement education and outreach materials:Created and implemented “Climate Sleuths: Tracking Changes in Your Community,” a 250-page climate change curriculum, designed around four primary units: water quality, beach profiles, sand composition, marine algae. Trained community volunteers in the Sanctuary’s on-going water quality monitoring program. Enhanced the training curriculum to also include beach profile surveys, sand composition analysis in response to ocean acidification, and marine alga collection and identification as an indicator of eutrophication and coral health.Assisted Sanctuary and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources staff with local coral reef and fish surveys and assisted in collection of underwater video for Sanctuary use.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Coastal Geology, 4.0 Gpa

Master’s Thesis: Physical effects of oyster reef rugosity: flume and field studies in a low-flow intertidal environment My graduate.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Geosciences

Minors in Environmental Studies & Geospatial Technologies Undergraduate Honors Thesis: Sedimentation patterns in an estuarine marsh.