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MEET THE TEAM

RESEARCH AND FIELD LEADS

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DR. MARILYN BRANDT

Reef Response Director
Research Associate Professor, University of the Virgin Islands

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Rachel ionata

Restoration Projects Coordinator

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DAN MELE

Coral Aquarist and Communications Specialist

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Natasha Bestrom

Acropora Monitoring Program Coordinator

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BRAD ARRINGTON

Coral Restoration Specialist

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JASON QUETEL

Marine Life Restoration Specialist

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Sonora Meiling

Marine Disease Specialist

Meet the Team: Meet the Team
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Nicholas Durgadeen

Disease Treatment Specialist and Outreach Coordinator

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chloé comancho

Education and Outreach Coordinator

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Dr. Larry Dew

Reef Response Faculty

Donor Relations Specialist

ALUMNI

Alex Gutting

Kristen Ewen

Alex is one of the cofounders Reef Response (formerly VI Reef Response) while she was a graduate student at UVI. She and Kristen Ewen lead efforts to rebuild the coral nursery at Flat Cay after it was destroyed in the 2017 hurricanes and created Reef Response's citizen science program. Alex is now the Coral Conservation Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy in St. Croix and is working to strengthen collaborations between the two coral restoration programs.

Kristen was one of the cofounders of Reef Response (formerly VI Reef Response) while at the University of the Virgin Islands. She was integral in rebuilding the Flat Cay nursery along following hurricanes Irma and Maria. She along with Alex Gutting developed the citizen science component of Reef Response, focusing on including recreational divers in coral nursery maintenance. Kristen is now a Biological Scientist Technician for the National Parks Service in St. Croix,  USVI.

Adam Glahn

Adam Glahn was a vital team member of Reef Response building our temporary land-based coral nursery system. He helped establish our in-water nursery at Great St. James. Adam currently works as a Biologist for the Environmental Protection Agency in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Kathryn cobleigh

Kathryn stepped into the Reef Response Coordinator role during the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her efforts helped grow our organization and took Reef Response to new heights. She is currently pursuing a PhD in coral restoration at the University of Technology Sydney. 

Meet the Team: List
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