We are very excited to welcome two new staff to the REEF Team - Noa Parks as Citizen Science Coordinator (left) and Shelby Thomas as Education Coordinator! Both are based at the REEF Campus in Key Largo, Florida.
Noa Parks first came to REEF as a Marine Conservation Intern in the fall of 2023. Following her internship she served as Marine Conservation Fellow, where she refined her skills and passion for ocean conservation before officially joining the staff team this past September. Noa grew up in the Memphis area, and earned a B.S. in biological sciences from Mississippi College in 2023. While obtaining her degree, she was a student-athlete, a member of the TriBeta Biological Honor Society, and part of an ecology research team that focused on the social behaviors of reptilian species. As Citizen Science Coordinator, Noa is excited to support the REEF Volunteer Fish Survey Project, as well as conservation science activities and education programs at the REEF Campus. In her free time, Noa loves anything competitive, as well as hiking, traveling, rock and fossil hunting, scuba diving, and cooking.
Shelby Thomas grew up in Vienna, Virginia. She graduated with a degree in marine affairs from the University of Miami in 2019, and received a Master of Professional Science degree in Marine Conservation in 2020. Previously, Shelby worked at Walt Disney World in their Animals, Science, and Environment department as an educator, with a focus on informal education. She has also worked with Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History as an Ocean Education intern, and worked with Waterlust on their communication initiatives. She is passionate about making science accessible to the public and getting people excited about the things that they learn. In her free time, Shelby enjoying cooking, reading, hanging out on the beach, and rooting for her favorite D.C. and Miami sports teams.
Welcome to the REEF team, Noa and Shelby!