S.C. Sea Grant Consortium
Projects & materials
As the Public Information Coordinator, I developed a range of communications products, including webpages, fact sheets, brochures, articles, and press releases. I also pitched and wrote feature stories on pertinent coastal topics, often amplifying or highlighting communities and partners.
I enjoyed making visual content for the Consortium, including aiding design-related projects and other medias, such as the story map below that displays the Consortium's current projects.
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To the left is a one-pager infographic flyer displaying the timeline and goals of the Palmetto Environmental Education Certification. I created materials such as this for distribution at events and conferences, and for our leadership team to present to partners and government officials.
View writing samples below, including a press release written upon receiving grant funding for community-based projects related to marine debris prevention, removal, and conversion.
The oyster feature story was released in coordination with the beginning of wild oyster harvest season to raise awareness surrounding the mariculture industry in South Carolina through the voices of local growers.
Program coordination
Two of my main responsibilities in the Extension Assistant role were to maintain the South Carolina Coastal Information Network (SCCIN) website and coordinate the Calling the Coast Home series. The SCCIN is a partnership formed by coastal organizations and agencies to offer educational trainings, events, and resources for coastal residents and professionals. I organized and hosted quarterly meetings for the SCCIN, where partners meet to share updates, accomplishments, and upcoming opportunities.
Calling the Coast Home is a continuing education course series for coastal real estate agents. The four-part series includes The Land Water Connection; Coastal Lifestyle for Clean Water; Living with Water; and Tidelands, Water, and Beach: Regulations and Rebuilding. Each of these courses focuses on coastal and marine topics related to living in South Carolina such as water quality, flooding, storm events, and building regulations. The classes are offered at three realtor associations along the coast. In addition to coordinating the series, I also co-taught the Living with Water course.
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In 2022, the Calling the Coast Home program received the Superior Outreach Programming Award, an annual honor given by the National Sea Grant College Program to recognize an outstanding outreach and engagement program. In addition to coordinating this program across coastal South Carolina, I also developed promotional materials (see right).
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SOCIAL MEDIA
At S.C. Sea Grant, I was the primary content creator and strategist behind the Consortium's social media platforms. Starting several platforms from the ground up, I was responsible for developing a digital identity, managing the delivery, and expanding the reach of science-based information across the state and beyond. In doing so, the agency's digital audience and national visibility significantly grew over the past couple of years.
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Events support
Over the two years at S.C. Sea Grant, I have assisted with the planning and execution of several major events. In May 2022, the Consortium hosted the inaugural S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Research Symposium, bringing together researchers, students, and professionals from across the state to examine scientific research and discuss inclusive and equitable application and management strategies in the face of a changing planet. As a member of the planning team for this event, I organized registration, assisted with abstract submittal, helped with day-of logistics, and covered the event on social media.
I have also been involved with several educational events and programs such as the Community Salt Marsh Restoration project, assisting with registration and hosting of volunteer events to plant Spartina seeds in the greenhouse and, later, to transplant them into the marsh during restoration days.
The REconnect Symposium, after being rescheduled due to Covid-19, was hosted at the South Carolina Aquarium (SCA) in July 2022. This partnering event between the Consortium and SCA connected researchers and educators to bring coastal and marine research to classrooms and conformal educational settings in an interactive, nontraditional format. As part of the planning committee, my role was to lead registration, developed merchandise for the event, and communicated with presenting scientists.