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:
Jennifer Kennedy
Executive Director & Co-Founder
jen@blueoceansociety.org
Jen is Executive Director and co-founder of Blue Ocean Society. 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.
Although Jen grew up in Rochester, NY far from the ocean, she has always loved the water and being outside, and had an interest in whales from an early age. Jen has worked in an educational capacity over the last 26 years through her work with Blue Ocean Society and aboard local whale watch and tour boats. She became involved in marine debris issues when Blue Ocean Society adopted Jenness Beach in Rye for monthly cleanups through what was then the National Marine Debris Monitoring Program. Cleanups at this one beach evolved into our Adopt-a-Beach Program, group cleanups, and partnerships with NH Sea Grant and other organizations to study and mitigate marine pollution in the region. Jen enjoys managing the day-to-day operations of the organization while taking the opportunity to get out to the beach or on the water as much as possible. Jen lives in Eliot, ME with her husband, daughter, and several pets and enjoys walking, hiking and kayaking.
Dianna Schulte
Director of Research & Co-Founder
dianna@blueoceansociety.org
Dianna is a co-founder and the Director of Research of Blue Ocean Society. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology with a minor in Marine Biology from the University of New Hampshire. She also holds a US Coast Guard captain’s license for 100-ton vessels. Dianna began her experience in the field of marine science and education in 1995, serving as a deckhand, 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.
For several winters, Dianna 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 focused on a project to study and protect critically 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 Sea to Shore Alliance based in South Carolina. After four winters in SC, she decided to hang up her wings and stay north year-round.
In addition to field research, Dianna coordinates data collection, analysis and cataloging efforts here at Blue Ocean Society.
Cathy Silver
Blue Ocean Discovery Center Co-Founder and Director
cathy@blueoceansociety.org
Cathy grew up on Hampton Beach where her family owned a deep sea fishing and whale watch business. She has degrees in biology and education and taught high school marine biology for many years. She received several teaching awards including the Presidential Award, NH Biology Teacher of the Year, and National Marine Outstanding Teacher Award.
Over the years she has also worked as a deckhand, fish cleaner, sea worm digger, lobsterman, and whale watch naturalist. She was privileged to christen the NOAA research ship Henry B. Bigelow and spent two weeks on the ship as a member of the “teacher at sea” program, working on a marine mammal abundance survey on Georges Bank. On the trip she saw hundreds of sperm whales and bottlenose dolphins and some manta rays and turtles; species seldom seen in the Gulf of Maine.
She had always wanted to have a nature center at Hampton Beach and in 2013 she partnered with us to open the Blue Ocean Discovery Center. She is passionate about protecting the marine world and hopes that the many people who visit the Discovery Center will also become advocates for protecting the marine environment.
Cathy likes to travel with her husband and in addition to exploring the National Parks, they make a yearly trip to the Caribbean where they enjoy snorkeling. She also loves to boogie board in the waves at Hampton Beach and kayak in the harbor.
Danielle Kamberalis
Marine Debris Program Lead & Volunteer Coordinator
danielle@blueoceansociety.org
Danielle earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Colby-Sawyer College. At Colby-Sawyer, she enjoyed her involvement with the liberal arts honors program, dance department, permaculture garden, and Office of Sustainability alongside her environmental coursework and research projects.
She also interned for Blue Ocean during her undergraduate program with the intention of getting research experience while spending time on the water. Little did she know, the internship would show her how much she enjoyed environmental education and grassroots conservation efforts. Danielle went on to work in environmental monitoring and education for several non-profits including the Seacoast Science Center, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, and Lake Sunapee Protective Association. She appreciates the mission-driven workplace culture characteristic of these organizations. Danielle recently returned from a year working in Texas, and she looks forward to bringing her experiences back to Blue Ocean and serve the seacoast community!
Danielle grew up in Danville, New Hampshire visiting and vacationing along the New England coast throughout her childhood. Danielle hopes to build a career that increases access to the positive, engaging outdoor experiences that helped lead her to pursue a sustainable lifestyle and a career in environmental science.
Nicole Downing
Research Assistant
Whale Research Internship Coordinator
nicole@blueoceansociety.org
Nicole earned her bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Animal Behavior, and her master’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of New Hampshire. Her master’s thesis focused on the effects of noise on house cricket behavior.
Nicole interned for Blue Ocean Society during her master’s program in 2019 and 2020, while also working full-time in UNH’s animal resource office, caring for lab animals. She is now Blue Ocean Society’s research assistant, working as a naturalist on Granite State Whale Watch and analyzing the data collected during whale watch season. Nicole also handles the whale research internship program, mentoring future marine scientists in research skills and public outreach.
Nicole grew up in Derry, New Hampshire, and is usually no more than a few feet from an animal at any time. She has had a variety of pets including cats, birds, turtles, lizards, fish, small mammals, hermit crabs, and insects. She has wanted to work with whales ever since seeing “Free Willy” for the first time. Nicole’s biggest hero is Steve Irwin and she is grateful for the opportunity to continue his life’s work through the Blue Ocean Society.
Niki Sullivan
Blue Ocean Discovery Center Assistant Director
Marine Science Education Internship Coordinator
niki@blueoceansociety.org
Niki is the Assistant Director of the Blue Ocean Discovery Center and the Internship Coordinator for the Marine Science Education internship program. She is also the animal caretaker for the resident animals at our Discovery Center.
Niki graduated from Unity College with her Bachelor of Science degree in Captive Wildlife Care and Education. She is also a certified interpretive guide through the National Association of Interpretation.
Niki grew up in New England, visiting the ocean and tide-pooling often. While she has always been very interested in animals, she was inspired to pursue this career path after volunteering as an educator at the Discovery Center in high school. While attending Unity College, she further developed an interest in environmental education.
Niki has had many opportunities where she has been able to care for live animals and educate with live animals. One of her favorite experiences was being a part of the Squam Lake Natural Science Center internship program, where she trained in environmental education and animal care with professional naturalists.
Niki hopes to continue to build a career that allows her to inspire appreciation of the natural world
Nikki Tenaglia
Program Assistant
nikki@blueoceansociety.org
Nikki T is the Program Assistant at Blue Ocean Society. Nikki grew up in Hull, MA, a small coastal town across the harbor from Boston. Growing up on the beach sparked her love for the ocean. Nikki went to the University of New England, where she earned a BA in Marine Affairs and a BS in Environmental Science. Nikki then moved to Miami, where she completed her master’s degree in Marine Conservation at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate years, Nikki took multiple courses that included travels to Costa Rica, Fiji, Belize, the Galapagos, Mexico, and an entire semester at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, fully indulging her love for travel.
In addition to her educational background, Nikki has held a wide variety of jobs, including an oyster farmhand, intern for Respect the Fin, Visitors Assistant at the New England Aquarium, intern at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, and more. She enjoys connecting with individuals and motivating them to share her excitement and passion for learning about the marine environment.
Nikki currently lives in Eliot, ME with her boyfriend and German Shepherd.
Amy Gunzelmann
Office Assistant
amy@blueoceansociety.org
Amy is one of the newest members of the Blue Ocean Society Team, joining as a part-time Office Assistant in the summer of 2021. She has a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of Maine where she studied tidepool fishes, and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a focus in Ecology from Binghamton University.
Amy has spent over 20 years as an informal science educator, sparking interest in scientific inquiry and inspiring connections to our natural world. Amy loved doing scientific research, but when working as a teaching assistant in graduate school discovered what she really loved; helping people make personal connections to biology and nature. She began as an educator at the Franklin Park and Stone Zoos, then migrated West to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to join their education team. When the East Coast called her back, Amy became a Museum Educator at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Throughout her career, Amy has focused on best practices in science communication, program evaluation, engaging all learners, and fostering community partnerships. By joining the Blue Ocean Society team, Amy hopes to bring these skills to support a local non-profit with a mission that is near to her heart; ocean conservation.
Although Amy grew up far from the ocean in upstate NY, since graduate school she can’t imagine her life away from the shore and has always lived near or on the sea, spending 3 years sailing and living aboard a wooden sailboat with her husband on the California and New England coasts. She now lives on land in Hampton, NH with her husband and 2 young children, and can often be spotted running, hiking, or (of course) at the beach.
Seasonal Staff
Data Coordinator
Kaela Preston
Research Associates aboard M/V Granite State
Jonathan Gwalthney
Melanie White