In addition to the many interns and volunteers that help us out each year (which include both men and women!), our primary staff members and research associates are:
Dianna is a co-founder and the President of Blue Ocean Society. She also holds the titles of Research and Intern Coordinator. Dianna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with a concentration in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire. She also holds a US Coast Guard captain’s license for 100-ton vessels. Dianna has 15 years of experience in the field of marine science and education including serving as naturalist and research scientist aboard commercial whale watch boats in NH and MA. She implemented Blue Ocean Society’s research and education internship program in 2000, and has given many presentations to schools and groups pertaining to the marine environment.
Dianna has also served as a mate for Lindblad Expeditions aboard environmental cruise ships that traveled to Alaska and Baja California, Mexico, providing passengers with unique experiences in unspoiled natural areas.
Since the winter of 2003, Dianna has migrated south with the whales. In 2003 she joined the right whale aerial survey team managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This team was focused on a project designed to study and protect highly endangered North Atlantic right whales from ship collisions. After many winter seasons in Florida, she decided to move a bit north and in 2009, took the team leader position for a similar right whale aerial survey project managed by Wildlife Trust and located in South Carolina. She has continued her annual migration and is spending this winter in South Carolina as well.
In addition to field research, Dianna coordinates data collection, analysis and cataloging efforts here at Blue Ocean Society.
Jen is co-founder of Blue Ocean. She has a Master of Science degree in Resource Administration and Management from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University.
Jen has worked in an educational capacity over the last 15 years through her work with Blue Ocean Society and aboard various boats, including those run by the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company in Portsmouth, NH, and the Atlantic Fishing and Whale Watching Fleet in Rye, NH. At the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company, she designed and implemented the company’s first marine biology internship program and ran the program for six years. She worked with interns to develop the company’s first dockside touch tank and implement effective marine education programs aboard the sightseeing tour boat M/V Thomas Laighton.
In June 2001, Jen became the survey director for the marine debris monitoring program at Jenness Beach, and has coordinated monthly cleanups and volunteers at that beach since. In addition to coordinating the Jenness Beach survey efforts, Jen works with local groups and businesses through Blue Ocean's Adopt-a-Beach Program, and coordinates the NOAA-funded Marine Debris to Energy Project. She also coordinates Blue Ocean's other outreach efforts, including school and group programs, educational programs at our touch tank, and boater education programs.
Jen lives in Eliot, ME with her husband, daughter, and two rambunctious dogs.
Patty has worked with Blue Ocean Society as an educator and naturalist since 2004. For the past two years, Patty has coordinated our educational programs and group cleanups.
Patty grew up on Plum Island, Massachusetts and has always loved the ocean and the incredible creatures who live there. Growing up on the beach, she and friends and family had always picked up after others who visited, a skill she practices these days during our beach cleanups!
As a teenager Patty went on her first whale watch, and that’s all it took. She started working on a whale watching boat many years ago as a deck hand and eventually became a naturalist. Most of all her knowledge and experience came from hands-on work on local whale watching boats. Her passion comes through in educating the public and the many conservation efforts we do at Blue Ocean Society. She lives in Amesbury, Massachusetts with her husband, two very busy teenage daughters, and her new puppy, a St. Bernard/Collie/Lab mix named Charlie.
Katherine has been our touch tank coordinator since summer 2008.
She has a Master of Arts in Environmental Education from the University of New Hampshire, and a Bachelor of Arts in English/Journalism from the University of New Hampshire.
Katherine is a certified advanced research scuba diver and is currently pursuing her teaching certificate. She lives in Dover, NH.
Beth Boucher – Naturalist and Research Associate Beth has been involved with Blue Ocean Society since the very beginning, and also serves on our Board of Directors (as Secretary) and Development Committee.
Beth graduated from the University of Maine, Machias with a BA in Biology, concentration in Marine Sciences and minor in chemistry. She has been working on boats and researching whales since 1999.
She has been the lead naturalist at Granite State Whale Watch for the past several years. Beth grew up in New Hampshire and has always had a love for the ocean. She lives in Manchester, NH and works as a veterinary technician at Daniel Webster Animal Hospital in Bedford, NH in the off-season. On her rare time off, she enjoys spending time with friends, family and her two four-legged children, her cats Daniel and Henry.
From Beth:
“The highlights of my career include seeing my first Northern right whale in 2003 and seeing my first blue whale in 2007.
Of key importance to me: research on Jeffrey’s Ledge, as we are the only group to do so. Fin whale research is extremely important to me. They are the 2nd largest animal in the world, they are seen on about 80% of our whale watches, but little is known about them. We at Blue Ocean Society are changing that every year we research the Gulf of Maine.”
Steve Johnson - Coastal Cleanup Assistant / Special Project Assistant steve@blueoceansociety.org / coastalcleanup@blueoceansociety.org
Steve Johnson is a local film and improvisational actor, producer and radio personality on WSCA 106.1 FM. He currently rehearses with True Story Theater in Boston, as well as performing stand-up comedy at the Grog in Newburyport, MA.
Hannah is a student at the University of New Hampshire, and participated in our research and education internship in summer 2009. At the end of her internship, she helped coordinate the NH Coastal Cleanup, which involved over 1,000 volunteers.
Research Associates and Educators
Here are some others you’ll meet at our programs and aboard whale watches!
Johnathan Gwalthney – Naturalist and Research Associate
Katie Murphy – Naturalist and Research Associate
Melanie White – Naturalist and Research Associate
Jennifer (Hafner) Kennedy - Director, Outreach Coordinator
Katherine Lanzer - Touch Tank Coordinator 
Steve Johnson - Coastal Cleanup Assistant / Special Project Assistant
