Katie St. Clair

Kaite is the Sea Life Facility Manager and a marine biology lecturer at Texas A&M Galveston Campus. She took on the role of manager in 2015, overseeing research projects conducted by faculty and students at the Sea Life Facility (SLF). Her work focuses on supervising studies that examine how marine organisms respond to environmental stressors. Recent projects include assessing how certain species adapt to low dissolved oxygen, studying the salinity and temperature tolerances of jellyfish, and investigating the effects of oil spills and dispersants on phytoplankton and microbial communities.

Dr. Jamie Steichen

Jamie earned her B.S. in Marine Science from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 2006 and completed a Ph.D. in Oceanography at Texas A&M University in 2012. After working as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Central Arkansas, she returned to Texas A&M Galveston as a postdoctoral researcher and later as a research scientist focusing on the Galveston Bay ecosystem. In 2020, she became an Instructional Assistant Professor in Marine Biology, emphasizing active learning and high-impact experiences. Recognized for her dedication, she received the TAMUG Vice President Meritorious Award for Outstanding Classroom Teaching in 2023. She teaches courses like Marine Ecology and enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Rhonda Gregg Hirsch

Rhonda has worked along the Texas Coast for 34 years, first running her own consulting firm and later working at both small and large engineering consulting firms. Now in her “third chapter,” she serves as Operations Manager for Beneficial Use at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. Her role allows her to shape and reinforce the future of Texas' fragile and eroding shoreline. She is excited to continue collaborating with local, county, and state governments, as well as resource agencies and other stakeholders, to support sustainable coastal management and beneficial use practices that help preserve the Texas coastline for future generations.

Sasha Francis

Sasha is the Gulf Restoration Education and Outreach Manager for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and has worked in environmental education for 17 years. She spent 12 years in marine mammal and bird care at accredited aquariums before shifting to conservation education with the Galveston Bay Foundation. In 2022, she joined the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, where she shares ongoing efforts to restore deep-sea coral communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. She partners with aquariums along the Gulf, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, schools, and community groups to educate the public on deep-sea ecosystems, helping to make these hidden habitats more visible.

Dr. Kristin Brzeski

Kristin Brzeski is a conservation geneticist who conducts research at the intersection of applied conservation and wildlife ecology. As an assistant professor at Michigan Technological University, she uses genomic and epigenetic sequencing, noninvasive genetics, and a variety of field-based techniques to unravel the ecology of little-known species and protect endangered wildlife. With a primary focus on wild canid genetics, Kristin has made significant contributions in her field as director of the Gulf Coast Canine Project and contributor to the Canine Ancestry Project. 

In addition to her canid research, Kristin is a co-founder of Biodiversity Initiative, an NGO focused on the protection of biodiversity in Central Africa through the collaborative creation, study, and management of protected areas. 

Dr. Anna Weiss

Dr. Anna Weiss is a coastal scientist and Director of Green Galveston Initiatives at Vision Galveston, a local nonprofit focused on community-driven sustainability. Before joining in 2023, she was the Community Science Program Manager for the Billion Oyster Project in NYC and an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Midwestern State University. She earned a Ph.D. in Geosciences from UT Austin and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute. Her research has explored past climate impacts on ecosystems to inform conservation efforts. Outside of work, she enjoys walking along Buffalo Bayou, cooking vegetarian meals, and spending time with her cats, Miss Baby and Wednesday.

Dr. Vanessa Mintzer

Dr. Vanessa Mintzer is a conservation ecologist with over fifteen years of experience in academic and nonprofit organizations. She specializes in the ecology and conservation of threatened species, using interdisciplinary research to assess human-wildlife conflicts. After working for the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) from 2006 to 2009, she earned a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida. She later rejoined GBF in 2014 as a consultant, co-founding the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research Program (GDRP) with the Environmental Institute of Houston. In 2023, she became GBF’s Director of Research, overseeing long-term dolphin studies and guiding additional research initiatives. She also holds an M.E.M. from Duke University and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Florida.