2023 CERF Rising TIDES 
Conference Program

Students | Near-Peer Mentors | Professional Mentors

CERF Rising TIDES supports students from backgrounds underrepresented in coastal and estuarine disciplines with the goal of inspiring and motivating them to pursue careers in coastal and estuarine science and management. The 2023-2024 program provides funding for scholars and near-peer mentors to attend CERF 2023, a regional CERF Affiliate Society meeting, and the 2024 Restore America's Estuaries Summit, while also providing mentorship, networking, and professional development. We are thrilled that through funding from NSF and NOAA, we are able to support 28 scholars, 7 near-peer mentors, and 7 professional mentors.

In addition to the CERF participants, we are able to include students from two additional NSF-funded programs: the SEAS Islands Alliance and C-StREAM, to participate in Rising TIDES programming at CERF 2023. This means that we will have 52 scholars, 16 near-peer mentors, and 15 professional mentors at CERF 2023!

Students

CERF Rising TIDES Students

• Docia Agyapong, University of Cape Coast
• Luciana Banquero, University of Central Florida 
• Alyah Bennett, University of North Florida
• Alexandra Cormak, University of the Virgin Islands
• Khari Crommarty, Old Dominion University
• Sage Enright, Western Washington University
• Mia Francis, University of New Brunswick, Saint John
• Anahy Garza, California State University, Los Angeles
• Yasmine Gatt, National University of Singapore
• Vincent Hart Jr., Southeastern Louisiana University
• Hannah Henry, Auburn University
• Valeria Hernandez Talavera, University of Massachusetts, Boston
• Hiu Ting (Tiffany) Ko, Sonoma State University
• Makadunyiswe (Maka) Ngulube, Saint Mary's University
• Merry Ann Ocampo, University of Guam
• Christian Pryor, Texas A&M University, Galveston
• Jennifer Raabe, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
• Zlatka Rebolledo Sanchez, Old Dominion University
• Diandre' Richie, University of North Carolina, Wilmington 
• Natalia Schoenberg, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary
• Stephanie Tsui, Northeastern University
• McKenna Varela, Western Washington University
• Ruth Wright, The University of North Carolina, Charlotte
• Siyah Yongue, Louisiana State University
• Grace Young, California State University, Fullerton
• Scott Lee Young, University of Florida
• Mengyang Zhou, University of Connecticut
• Alex Zinck, The Evergreen State College

C-StREAM and SEAS Scholars

• Shamoy Bideau, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Amanda Boissiere, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Zach Briggs, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Chloe Camacho, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Nathalia Lugo Ciriaco, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Emma Chuang, Oregon State University, C-StREAM
• Geovany Borrero Colon, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Lyn Galang, University of Guam, SEAS
• Miranda Goad, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Denny Gonzalez, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Kayla Halliday, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Sarai Hutchison, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Adnerys Lianis Burgos Lopez, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Kahissa Paola Manzano Martir, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Sierrah Mueller, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Criselys Perez Nevarez, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Laura Palomino Bloem, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Adriana Cruz Olmo, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Julia Plotkin, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Anthony Ritter, University of Guam, SEAS
• Naomi Santiago Santiago, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Nathalie Torres Serrano, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Jordan Silva, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Ella Troutman, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Mayerli De Jesus Vega, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, SEAS

Near-peer Mentors

CERF Rising TIDES Near-peer Mentors

• Kailani Acosta, Columbia University
• Jade Blennau, Peconic Estuaries Program 
• Archi Howlader, USGS
• Gabriela (Bella) Reyes, University of Florida
• Alfonso Macias Tapia, NOAA Office of Education
• Briana Yancy, NOAA Knauss Fellow
• Jenn Zhu, Billion Oyster Project

SEAS Near-peer Mentors

• Anna Aguirre, University of Guam, SEAS
• Anela Duenas, University of Guam, SEAS
• Allison Holevoet, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Arianah Montijo, Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Stephanie Lopez Rivera, Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Edier Roman, Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Lila Uzzell, University of the Virgin Islands, SEAS
• Mirim Villafane Vincente, Puerto Rico, SEAS
• Isabel Sanchez Viruet, Puerto Rico, SEAS

Professional Mentors

CERF Rising TIDES Professional Mentors

• Neil Ganju, USGS
• Leanna Heffner, Alaska Conservation Foundation
• Brittany King, NOAA
• Chanda Littles, US Army Corps of Engineers
• Johnny Quispe, The Nature Conservancy
• Lori Sutter, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
• Drew Talley, University of San Diego

SEAS Professional Mentors

Through joint support of students, near-peer mentors, and professional mentors, this program aims to enhance career development of minoritized and marginalized students in the coastal and estuarine sciences, provide leadership opportunities for near-peer mentors, ensure that students participating in the program will have sustained mentorship following the conference, help develop a community of practice for CERF members who are engaged in building diversity and inclusion within their own organizations and across institutions, and involve those who are already mentors in helping to transform CERF into a broadly inclusive society.

In addition to the full suite of scientific sessions and other conference activities, students and their mentors participated in a workshop with expert panelists and key CERF members and partners who are leaders in diversity, with the goal of inspiring and motivating students to pursue career pathways in coastal and estuarine science. Diversity, inclusion, and equity themes were infused throughout the regular conference programming for the benefit of all attendees.

The Rising TIDES Conference Program is part of a comprehensive CERF initiative to enhance diversity and inclusion in CERF and coastal and estuarine sciences. This initiative is led by the CERF Broadening Participation Council.

The 2023 Rising TIDES Conference Program is supported by NSF Award No.s 2233699, 2233700, 2233701, 2233702, and 2233703 and NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. The SEAS Islands Alliance is supported by NSF Award Nos 1930991, 1930852, 1930910, 1930869, 1930998, and 1930857. C-StREAM is supported by NSF Award No 2023039.

Learn more about Rising TIDES: www.cerf.science/risingtides

View more information about the 2023 Rising TIDES Conference Program.