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In addition to the several interns
and volunteers that help us out each
year, our primary staff members are:
Dianna Schulte
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President, Research Coordinator
Dianna is
co-founder and President of Blue Ocean. She 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 ten years 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 the internship program on Newburyport
Whale Watch’s vessel in 2000, and has given many presentations to schools and
groups pertaining to the marine environment. She 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.
During the winter of
2003, Dianna was a member of an aerial survey team in Florida. This team was
focused on a project designed to study and protect highly endangered North
Atlantic right whales from ship collisions. She returned this winter to be a
member of the survey team.
In addition to field
research, Dianna coordinates data collection, analysis and cataloging efforts
here at Blue Ocean.
More about Dianna
Jen (Hafner) Kennedy
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Director, Outreach Coordinator
Jen
is co-founder of Blue Ocean. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural
Resources from Cornell University (1995), and a Master of Science degree in
Resource Administration and Management from the University of New Hampshire
(2003).
Jen
has worked in an educational capacity over the last ten years through her work
with Blue Ocean 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 dockside touch tank, and continues to supervise the touch tank (now
managed by Blue Ocean) and implement marine education programs aboard the
sightseeing tour boat when possible.
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. Jen also serves as Blue Ocean’s
representative to Coastal Education Initiatives (CEI), an organization
facilitated by the New Hampshire Coastal program that brings together non-formal
educators from state agencies, non-profits and the private sector to share
resources and define “territories” and niches through open dialogue. She also
serves as board secretary for the Aquaculture Education and Research Center (AERC)
in Hampton, NH.
In
addition to coordinating the Jenness Beach survey efforts, Jen works with local
groups and businesses through Blue Ocean's Adopt-a-Beach Program. She also
coordinates Blue Ocean's other outreach efforts, including school and group
programs, educational programs at our touch tank, and boater education programs.
More
about Jen
Beth Boucher - Naturalist
& Research Associate
Beth works as a
naturalist for Granite State Whale Watch. She has a
B.S. from the University of
Maine at Machias, and currently resides in Manchester, NH and works as a
veterinary technician in the off-season.
Kate
Stepenuck - Naturalist
& Research Associate
Kate works as a
naturalist for Granite State Whale Watch.
During the school year, she teaches eighth grade at Londonderry Middle School in
Londonderry, NH.
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