2021 CERF Rising TIDES 
Conference Program

CERF was proud to welcome the recipients of the 2021 Rising TIDES (Toward an Inclusive, Diverse, and Enriched Society) Conference Program to the virtual 26th Biennial CERF Conference. Rising TIDES supported 48 students, 17 near-peer mentors, and 15 professional mentors to participate in CERF 2021. This year, we were able to include students from two additional NSF-funded programs: the SEAS Islands Alliance and C-StREAM.

Students

• Valerie Acosta Rodriguez, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao
• Anna Aguirre, University of Guam
• Ayi Ajavon, Georgia State University
• Wilnelia Barea Carrion, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Krista Beardy, University of New Brunswick
• Jahnyah Brooks, University of the Virgin Islands
• Luana Chociai, New Jersey City University
• Dlynzee Damas, University of Massachusetts Boston 
• Ruth Daniel, Louisiana State University
• Katherine Delgado Durán, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Anela Duenas, University of Guam
• Nicholas Durgadeen, University of the Virgin Islands
• Carina Fish, University of California, Davis
• Jackeima Flemming, University of the Virgin Islands
• Anissa Foster, Stanford University 
• Emma Green, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
• Allison Holevoet, University of the Virgin Islands
• Archi Howlader, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
• Joeshliann Huertas Cruz, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Georgia Humphries, Queens College, City University of New York
• Abril Hunter, Florida State University
• Alexia LaGrone, Louisiana State University
• Asmara Lehrmann, University of Alabama
• Millie López Inostroza, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Daniel Mabagos, University of Guam
• Kyra MacFarlane, California State University, Long Beach
• Tiandra Manns, University of Georgia
• Samantha McGarrigle, University of New Brunswick
• Joshua McGilly, Old Dominion University
• Adriana Murphy, George Mason University 
• Alondra Ortiz Sotomayor, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Laura Palomino, University of the Virgin Islands
• Kahlifah Powell, University of the Virgin Islands
• Gabriella Prelosky, University of Guam
• Brandon Quintana, California State University, Fullerton
• Gabriela Reyes, University of Florida
• Mónica Rodríguez Pabón, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Zabdiel Roldan Ayala, Queens College, City University of New York
• Britney Sison, University of Guam
• Monisha Sugla, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
• Savannah Swinea, Northeastern University
• Willxander Taveras Gonzalez, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Alexa Marie Torres Oliveras, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Leslie Townsell, University of Georgia
• Kelsey Vaughn, University of the Virgin Islands
• Jessica Vielman, Queens College, City University of New York
• Miranda White, Bethune-Cookman University
• Briana Yancy, Miami University Ohio

Near-peer Mentors

• Anita Arenas, California State University, Long Beach
• Ninoshka M.Betancourt, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Anjali Boyd, Duke University
• Jimmy DeMayo, University of Connecticut
• Allie Durdall, University of the Virgin Islands
• Genae Gonsalves, University of the Virgin Islands
• Solely Luyando Flusa, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Alfonso Macias-Tapia, Old Dominion University
• Kayla Martinez-Soto, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
• Ian Perez Cruz, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Joey Reustle, University of North Carolina
• Zola Roper, University of the Virgin Islands
• Abbey Sisti, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
• Sommer Starr, Florida State University
• Heather Stewart, University of the Virgin Islands
• Patricia N. Vidal, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
• Jennifer Zhu, The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Professional Mentors

• Maria F. Barberena Arias, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
• Nikki Bramwell, University of Technology, Jamaica
• Marilyn Brandt, University of the Virgin Islands
• Howard Forbes Jr., University of the Virgin Islands
• Neil Ganju, U.S. Geological Survey
• Leanna Heffner, The Northwest Boreal Partnership
• Chanda Littles, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Pedro Maldonado, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
• Molly Mitchell, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
• Sydney Nick, U.S. Geological Survey
• Cheryl, Sangueza, University of Guam
• Danielle Perry, Mass Audubon
• Drew Talley, University of San Diego
• Corianne Tatariw, The University of Alabama
• Kristin Wilson Grimes, University of the Virgin Islands

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 2021 Rising TIDES Conference Program is supported by NSF Award No 2036515 and contributions from CERF, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Maryland Sea Grant, and Hilary Neckles. 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 2021 Rising TIDES Conference Program.