The University of the Virgin Islands’ (UVI) Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) recently welcomed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Senior Advisor for Coastal Inundation and Resilience, Mark Osler, along with Special Assistant and NOAA Knauss Marine Policy Fellow — and UVI alumna — Julia Plotkin, for a seminar and tour focused on advancing coastal resilience efforts and expanding career pathways for students in marine science.
The January visit included a seminar titled “Coastal Resilience in Practice: From Science to Service to Career,” followed by a tour of the CMES facilities. A total of 42 UVI students, faculty, and staff attended the event.
Plotkin, a graduate of UVI’s Master of Marine and Environmental Science (MMES) program, joined Osler in sharing insights into NOAA’s mission, aligned interests in the Caribbean, and professional opportunities available to students. Both speakers also reflected on their personal career journeys. For Plotkin, that path included her graduate studies at UVI and work with the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife.
“The seminar offered valuable information regarding future opportunities beyond academia,” said Isabella Symington St John, a current UVI MMES student. “The open discussion allowed me to gain insight into their personal journeys, understand the different paths individuals can take within the marine science community, and conceptualize where I could be in a few years through Julia’s experiences, grounded in the MMES program’s foundation.”
CMES Interim Director, Dr. Tyler Smith, highlighted the significance of NOAA’s continued partnership with UVI.
“CMES and UVI have been a longtime partner with NOAA for ocean science in the region,” Smith said. “It was a true honor to have Mark Osler visit the center from such an important position within NOAA. It was also a tremendous pleasure to welcome back UVI MMES alumna, Julia Plotkin, in her new role at NOAA. This is a testament to the quality of education we provide at UVI and the work preparation provided at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.”
Plotkin and Osler were in the territory, participating in meetings for the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) project, which awarded $69M to the USVI for coastal resilience projects, including land acquisition, watershed improvements, and environmental youth education programs. At UVI, this includes funding to the GRROE USVI Mangroves program led by CMES researcher, Dr. Kristin Wilson Grimes, and funding to the Caribbean Green Technology Center led by Dr. Greg Guannel.
The USVI was one of only 14 awards made nationally as part of NOAA’s CRRC program, last year.
“Having Mark and Julia join our CRRC VI Partners Meeting was inspiring and educational,” said Kitty Edwards, Director of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Division of the Territorial Parks and Protected Areas and project lead. “It was an amazing opportunity for reciprocal learning – for our federal partners to hear and learn from our local partners and vice versa. The opportunities made available through the CRRC award continue to build community, connections and capacity for the Virgin Islands.”
For more information about the USVI CRRC project, contact, Territorial Parks and Protected Areas Director, Kitty Edwards, kristina.edwards@dpnr.vi.gov.
For more information about UVI’s CMES, contact CMES Interim Director, Dr. Tyler Smith, tsmith@uvi.edu.
Contact the Office of Public Relations with any media inquiries at (340) 693-1059 or at pr@uvi.edu.
