Gills Club Host Sites

How it started…

When AWSC began offering Gills Club events, they were exclusive to Cape Cod and Florida. As Gills Club grew and we saw an interest from members around the country who wanted to get involved, we looked for opportunities to expand. That is why we were excited to engage with partners and develop host sites for events to take place in other regions.

Meet the amazing women who run our host sites

The AWSC has developed partnerships with aquariums, education facilities, and academic institutions to develop host sites. Locations where Gills can get together, to attend a facilitated educational event, at no cost to them or their family. We are grateful to the individuals who are leading these events and providing this experience to the ocean stewards of tomorrow!

I graduated with a degree in Biology with a concentration in oceanography in May 2021 from Miami University in Ohio. After a conservation education internship with WAVE Foundation in 2019, I knew that conservation education was my calling. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had experiences in wildlife rehabilitation and  environmental education, including a year living in sunny Naples, Florida. I now run the outreach conservation education program, WAVE on Wheels, at WAVE Foundation.

I love running the Gills Club program at WAVE. While we are close to the Ohio River, we are far from the ocean. Connecting our next generation of ocean conservationists to sharks has been such a rewarding experience for me. I love planning the activities and topics and executing them. I have been running this program for 3 years now, and one of the best parts of it is seeing my returning members grow confident and passionate about sharks and helping protect them. We’re also fortunate enough to run the program on grant funding, which allows us to take a yearly summer trip with two Gills and their guardians on a shark trip. We’ve been to Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and Bimini Shark Lab so far!

In May 2020, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and in December 2023, I earned a Master of Education in Science Education from North Carolina State University. I am currently the Lead Special Activities Instructor at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, where my team and I lead a diverse range of educational programs, including summer camps, birthday parties, sleepovers, and behind-the-scenes tours. In my role, I oversee program development, ensuring that the content is interactive and scientifically accurate for learners of all ages.

As a Latina woman in STEM, I'm passionate about being a role model for young girls, particularly those who may not always see themselves represented in science. Through Gills Club, I'm honored to be part of a community that empowers and inspires the next generation of female scientists, fostering curiosity and confidence in STEM fields. In the fall of 2024, I took over the Gills Club host site in Wilmington, North Carolina. Located right next to the Atlantic Ocean, I have the privilege of connecting young minds with the incredible marine life we work to protect, especially sharks. I'm dedicated to inspiring others to follow their passions in STEM and cultivating a deeper appreciation for our ocean and the animals that call it home.

I am a Master’s student in the Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University, as well as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. My current research focuses on studying the interactions between sharks and fisheries, with an emphasis on assessing the post-release mortality of scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) caught as bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery.

In Fall 2024, I had the privilege of helping to establish a Gills Club host site in Oregon, an experience that has been incredibly rewarding. I am passionate about working with Gills Club because it offers a unique and impactful opportunity to inspire the next generation of shark scientists, especially young women. Through this platform, I have the privilege of helping to foster an environment where women gain the confidence to pursue opportunities in the field. Gills Club allows me, along with other members of our lab, to serve as female role models in a field that has traditionally been dominated by men. It is an honor to be part of a community that empowers young women to believe in their abilities and encourages them to pursue their scientific aspirations without hesitation.

I am currently finishing up my fourth year at Oregon State University while working with the Big Fish Lab. My current project focuses on the health of Scalloped hammerheads in longline fisheries. In my free time, you can find me on the beach searching for agates or reading a good book alongside my kitty Tri-Pod.

Growing up in Las Vegas, I was only able to develop a passion for the ocean through organizations like Gills Club. So now I love sharing that enthusiasm by teaching kids about marine life, inspiring them just as I was, even in the heart of the desert.

I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and spent many summers at the Jersey Shore. After getting my bachelor's degree in biology, I went to Florida to study the population genetics of tiger sharks and earn a Master's of Science. While in graduate school I became a Gills Club Scientist!

I love working with Gills Club because there are so many amazing women studying sharks that don't get the recognition they deserve. Working in Nevada desert allows me to inspire girls who might never have considered marine science as a possibility. I am so glad to be able to use the Gills Club team to share our love for sharks!