2019 CERF Rising TIDES
Conference Program


CERF 2019 Rising TIDES students and mentors

CERF was proud to welcome the recipients of the 2019 Rising TIDES (Toward an Inclusive, Diverse, and Enriched Society) Conference Program to Mobile, Alabama, for the 25th Biennial CERF Conference. Rising TIDES jointly supported 14 underrepresented minority (URM) students and their mentors to participate in CERF 2019:

  • Kailani Acosta, Ph.D. student, Columbia University. Mentor: Lori Sutter, University of Georgia
  • Kelcie Chiquillo, Ph.D. student, University of California, Los Angeles. Mentor: Tiara Moore, University of Washington and The Nature Conservancy
  • Nicholas Coleman, undergraduate senior, Coastal Carolina University. Mentor: William Ball, Johns Hopkins University and Chesapeake Research Consortium
  • Johanna Dieudonne, undergraduate junior, Georgia Southern University. Mentor: John Carroll, Georgia Southern University
  • Emelie Foster, undergraduate senior, University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Mentor: Anna Armitage, Texas A&M University Galveston
  • Hannah Hayes, undergraduate senior, University of California Los Angeles. Mentor: Julie Schram, University of Oregon
  • Alfonso Macias-Tapia, Ph.D. student, Old Dominion University. Mentor: Xuan Chen, Salisbury University
  • Steven Manos, undergraduate sophomore, Portland Community College. Mentor: Julie Schram, University of Oregon
  • Kayla Martinez-Soto, master’s student, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Mentor: David Johnson, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
  • Cheryl Patel, master’s student, San Francisco State University. Mentor: Chris Madden, South Florida Water Management District
  • Danielle Perry, Ph.D. student, University of Rhode Island. Mentor: Cathleen Wigand, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Joseph Reustle, Ph.D. student, Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi. Mentor: Linda Bui, Louisiana State University
  • Sommer Starr, master’s student, University of Alabama. Mentor: Corianne Tatariw, University of Alabama
  • Jennifer Zhu, Ph.D. student, The Graduate Center CUNY. Mentor: J. Stephen Gosnell, The Graduate Center CUNY

Through joint support of both students and mentors, this program aims to enhance career development of URM students, 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 of URM students 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 URM 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 new initiative to enhance diversity and inclusion in CERF and coastal and estuarine sciences. This initiative is led by the CERF Broadening Participation Council, chaired by Treda Grayson ([email protected]).

The 2019 Rising TIDES Conference Program is supported by NSF Award No 1928845 and contributions from CERF.

Learn more about Rising TIDES: www.cerf.science/risingtides
View more information about the 2019 Rising TIDES Conference Program