Greg Atkin

Greg Atkin is the Conservation Programs Coordinator at the National Aquarium with a portfolio of community work on issues of environmental justice, engagement, and agency. They graduated with a Masters in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University where they worked on the emotional dimensions of conservation. They have worked around Baltimore, the wider Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the larger Mid-Atlantic region on issues like marine debris, place-based environmental learning, and storytelling. They are honored to be a part of this inaugural class of fellows. Thank you to the amazing team at ACP and the National Aquarium for their continued support.

National Aquarium

Alice Chen

Alice Chen is currently a freshman at Vanderbilt University, majoring in civil engineering and minoring in engineering management. She is from Brooklyn, New York City, and during her junior and senior years of high school at Brooklyn Technical High School, she interned at the New York Aquarium as a Youth Ocean Advocate. During her time as a Youth Ocean Advocate, she worked towards promoting conservation, climate change protection, as well as working to gain awareness and support for the Hudson Canyon Sanctuary Designation Project by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Some of her interests are sustainability in the built environment and environmental protection. In her free time, she loves volunteering with peers at different park and beach cleanups. She is excited for her future work as an Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) Policy Ambassador.

New York Aquarium

California Academy of Sciences

Mauna Dasari

Mauna Dasari (she/her) is the Senior Government Grants Officer at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California. At the Academy, she supports emerging internal and external collaborations through the proposal development process, leveraging a strong track record of translating complex scientific principles into engaging and accessible content for audiences ranging from K-12 students to grant reviewers. Her interest in policy stems from a need to combine her affinity for biology, love of public service, and dedication to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, especially in STEM fields. She holds a PhD in microbial ecology from the University of Notre Dame and received her BA in Anthropology and BS in Microbial Biology from UC Berkeley.

Audubon Aquarium

Grant fowler

Grant Fowler is the Manager of Guest Engagement at Audubon Nature Institute for the Aquarium and Insectarium in New Orleans, Louisiana. He holds a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Baylor University as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Russian Language. With a background in the museum field, his career is focused in non-profit management and informal education as a way to connect audiences of all ages to the world around them. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and traveling to new places.

Mystic Aquarium

sam glass

Samantha Glass is a PhD Candidate at the University of Connecticut. She studies the marine carbonate system in the Arctic Ocean, examining the biogeochemical processes that occur during sea ice freezing and melting. Her work aims to better understand uncertainties in the Arctic carbon cycle and how a warming climate is altering the chemical properties of sea ice. While just entering the science-policy sphere, she is interested in how complex scientific information can reach and inspire change in broader audiences. She is currently pursuing a science communication and policy internship at Mystic Aquarium, where she focuses on translating policy and advocacy priorities into effective public engagement and outreach. Sam currently holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of South Carolina and expects to complete her PhD in 2026. When not working, she enjoys running, hiking, aerial gymnastics, and spending time with her husband.

Georgia Aquarium

jenn havens

Jenn Havens is a Manager of Guest Programs at Georgia Aquarium where her team connects 3 million guests each year with ocean and freshwater ecosystems. She holds a B.A. from Hampshire College where she examined climate change communication for various audiences and is currently working on a M.A. in Conservation Biology looking at methods to encourage pro-environmental behavior after zoo and aquarium visits. Outside of work her favorite thing is hiking all around Georgia with her three rescue dogs!

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Charles Healy

Charles Healy is apart of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership Policy Fellowship program as a youth advocate. Charles is a volunteer at the Cincinnati Zoo largely working in visitor experience and education. A senior at St. Xavier high school, Charles is the founder of his schools beekeeping club, as well as an avid member of his schools marine biology, zoology, and environmental action clubs. With current plans to major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Charles hopes to eventually enter the field of conservation, animal care, a related field, or something completely different.

Shedd Aquarium

allison richards

Allison Richards is Shedd Aquarium’s Conservation Practices Coordinator, working at the intersection of environmental policy, sustainable business practices, and community-based stewardship. Sitting across both the Conservation Action and Government Affairs & Policy teams, she is interested in bridging policy solutions needed to protect our waterways with on-the-ground volunteer stewardship. Allison also leads Shedd’s Let’s Shedd Plastic program, partnering with local Chicago restaurants to reduce single-use plastics, adopt more sustainable operations, and build a growing community of businesses committed to a healthier Great Lakes region. Allison holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management as well as Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. When she’s not at work, you can find her playing rec sports with friends or enjoying time in Lake Michigan!

Tennessee Aquarium

Natali rodgers

Natali Rodgers is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity and foster connections with the natural world. With 20 years of experience in zoos and aquariums, she specializes in developing innovative education programs, enhancing guest engagement, and leading evaluation strategies that measure impact and drive continuous improvement. She currently serves as Director of Learning & Evaluation at the Tennessee Aquarium, where she leads efforts to assess and strengthen educational initiatives for diverse audiences. Her career journey includes roles at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta, where she managed education teams, designed youth and family programs, and elevated guest experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology from Savannah State University and is committed to advancing informal science education and conservation awareness through data-driven insights and creative program design.

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

codi sharkey

Codi Sharkey is the Conservation Programs Manager at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, where she leads watershed-restoration initiatives, prairie and wetland conservation projects, and youth engagement programs such as Teens Take C.A.A.R.E. (Conservation Action through Advocacy, Research, and Engagement). Her work supports the Museum’s mission to protect the health and resilience of the Mississippi River watershed through hands-on stewardship and community education. Codi holds a B.A. in Biology from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. She also served four years with Green Iowa AmeriCorps, during which she advanced community sustainability efforts and was honored with the Governor’s Volunteer Award for her service. Rooted in her lifelong connection to the outdoors — shaped by childhood days spent fishing, hiking, and exploring local waterways — Codi continues to find inspiration in nature. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, fishing, and reading, passions that reflect her enduring commitment to conservation and learning.