I am currently a Master of Environmental Management student at Duke University with concentrations in Coastal & Marine Systems and Community Engagement & Environmental Justice. I aim to effectively and equitably preserve marine biodiversity while supporting food and economic security in coastal communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in California, my home state. I have experience designing, coordinating, and conducting socio-ecological research which informs environmental policy and evaluates conservation initiatives. These research projects have focused on sustainable fisheries, marine protected areas, debt-for-nature swaps, conservation trust funds, coral reef restoration, and ecotourism. My fluency in Spanish and English and proficiency in French has allowed me to collaborate and communicate directly with scientists, government agencies, NGOs, and communities in multiple sites globally to facilitate multinational collaboration, capacity building, and stakeholder participation in conservation decisions.