Bay Watershed Education & Training

Leadership

2022 NOAA BWET Leaders

Teresa Greely, Ph.D

Welcome to the USF College of Marine Science (CMS)! I have graduated twice from USF, as a marine biologist and then as a science educator.  My research has been exploring ocean literacy to help understand what people know about, feel about, and would do for the ocean; and marine ecology research to help understand how fishes are adapted to live where they live in the ocean, and their contribution to global carbon cycling. This amazing career in ocean sciences and education has taken me to many places---aboard an icebreaker in the Southern Ocean to study deep sea fishes, diving in submersibles for jellies, aboard the R/V Atlantis to film hydrothermal vents with Alvin and sailing aboard the R/V Joides Resolution to collect sediment cores from the deep ocean floor. Each workday I have the privilege of teaching and training college students, teachers, and K-12 students about the ocean, while helping develop teaching, leadership, and communication skills. For fun I listen to music, read, cycle, hike, volunteer, and spend time with family and friends. Every year is filled with new adventures. I look forward to making positive memories with each of you.

Makenzie Kerr, M.S.

Hi teachers! My name is Makenzie. Growing up in Saint Petersburg, FL, I have always loved the ocean and the animals that live there. I graduated from USF’s College of Marine Science with a Master’s degree and my work focuses on DNA barcoding, which allows me to identify fish eggs using their genetic material instead of their physical features. I currently work as an Oceanography Camp for Girls coordinator and as a Lab Manager & Outreach Coordinator at USF. I absolutely love sharing my passion for the ocean with others. My favorite part of outreach is teaching students about the smallest creatures in the oceans, like plankton, baby fish, and bacteria, and seeing their faces light up when they see something new. 

Sarah Grasty, M.S. 

Hello! My name is Sarah and I originally hail from the Midwest, but since graduating high school I’ve bounced around the Southeast from SC to FL to GA. I have 10 years of outreach and informal education experience, and while continuing to do that work, I’ve also been able to keep one foot in research science. Much of the research side of my work deals with reef fish population assessments using camera technology, seafloor mapping, and habitat characterization in the Gulf of Mexico. I also manage the outreach efforts for the Center for Ocean mapping and Innovative Technologies (COMIT) which includes maintaining the website, being active on social media, writing quarterly newsletters, organizing a webinar series, and leading a Trusted Community Bathymetry project. I also am always looking and learning to integrating better diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives into the Center’s activities, as well as the USF College of Marine Science where I co-chair our DEI committee. Additionally, I co-lead USF CMS’s Guardians of the Gulf outreach program with my colleague, Kristen Kusek (USF CMS Director of Communications). Our Guardians seeks to provide fun, multisensory marine science and coastal resiliency programming to underserved youth, teens, and their community in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs in Pinellas County. I’m very excited to adapt some of the activities used by the teachers in the BWET program for our informal learning space with the Guardians.

2022 NOAA BWET Lead Teachers

Charmaine Rushing, M.S.

Charmaine Rushing, a former primary classroom teacher and leader with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. Charmaine currently serves as the K-5 STEM Instructional Staff Developer for Pinellas County Schools.  Charmaine has earned her Master of Arts in Elementary Education with a Math and Science Concentration, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida, as well as completed Pathways to Proficient Reading with the Academy in Manayunk. Charmaine has a passion for supporting STEM education and providing to underserved and marginalized scholars and our future innovators. Additionally, Charmaine has earned credentialing to serve as a diversity, equity, and inclusion champion.

Amber Robinson

My name is Amber Robinson and I have almost 20 years experience as an educator and strategic planner developing a Magnet School for Engineering and Mathematics since its inception in 2003.  I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from FSU (2003), National Board Teaching Certification (2008), and named the Florida Association of Science Teachers Outstanding Educator of the Year (2019). My exciting teaching career has been focused on advocating and supporting our earliest learners in the development of reading, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I have had the pleasure of presenting for the National Science Teacher Association STEM Forum and Annual Conference in 2018, 2019, and 2022. I am an educational consultant to Ituey LLC and on the Board of Directors for the AEDI Foundation (Achieving Engineering Driven Innovation).  I am a founding member of TEAM Elevate, a collective group of African American Professionals working with the AEDI Foundation to host free STEM events in the community exposing our earliest learners to STEM while promoting greater equity in STEM academics and career pathways. It is exciting to be working with other amazing educators that are committed to peaking student interest in STEM based learning

2022 NOAA BWET Graduate Student Liaisons

Lisa Rose-Mann

My name is Lisa Rose-Mann and I'm a Graduate student at USF's College of Marine Science seeking a Master's degree in Biological Oceanography. My research is looking for contamination in animals in the Gulf of Mexico and the transfer of contaminants in the food web through predator/prey interactions. My main focus is on cephalopods (squid) and pelagic fish like Tuna and Swordfish. I was an Honors student at USF St. Petersburg and received my Bachelor's degree in Biology with a Minor degree in Chemistry and concentration in Marine Science. I'm a Florida native and have always loved the Gulf for boating, fishing, relaxing, and beaching. I'm excited to meet you all and share my love for the ocean, science, and chemistry with you. 

Jessica Van Vaerenbergh

My name is Jess and I am a graduate student at the USF's College of Marine Science seeking a Master's degree in Marine Resource Management. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I have spent my entire life exploring the ocean and now I am lucky enough to study it every day! I earned my bachelor’s degree in Marine Science from the University of Florida and have studied reef fish populations for many years. Currently, I am interested in how humans are changing the behaviors of reef fish on our local reefs due to fishing pressures. I have a passion for ocean conservation, and I cannot wait to share them with you all! I am also very excited to meet everyone!!