Carolina joined the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries team in 2022 as the National Cultural Resource Coordinator where she has assisted in advancing approaches to working collaboratively across communities, governments, and knowledge systems. Carolina joins us with extensive experience working within and with Indigenous governments regionally, nationally, and internationally on diverse topics. Much of Carolina’s experience is rooted in establishing monitoring programs, biodiversity, conservation, marine biology, food security, and bringing together knowledge systems through a co-production of knowledge approach.

Kirsten first joined NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, West Coast Regional Office (WCRO) as an intern in October 2022 while pursuing her masters degree at University of California, Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. After graduating, in July 2023, Kirsten joined the WCRO as a full time contractor working on the designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) and facilitating the public comment period, NOAA’s response to comments, and finalizing designation documents such as the final environmental impact statement and management plan. Upon designation of CHNMS in October 2024, Kirsten started a new role as the Resource Protection / Permit Specialist with CHNMS where she helps implement the new sanctuary with a focus on building a resource protection and permitting program. Kirsten is passionate about protecting our oceans and spending time in them– while not working, Kirsten can be found free-diving, surfing, doing yoga, or wandering a local farmer’s market.

Monisha joined the sanctuary team in 2022, contributing to ACCESS research cruises, offshore monitoring moorings, and a range of interdisciplinary projects. She earned her M.S. in Coastal and Marine System Science from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as a NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Fellow. Her research focused on utilizing restored oyster reef height to optimize oyster reef restoration efforts. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from Rutgers University, where she conducted fieldwork and research in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Monisha has also contributed to research and long-term monitoring programs with the National Park Service. Now serving as the Marine Research Ecologist for CHNMS, Monisha is excited to explore the diverse habitats and species of the region. She is dedicated to making science more accessible and engaging people from various backgrounds to foster stewardship. In her free time, Monisha loves traveling, spending time outdoors, and being near any body of water—whether it’s the ocean, a lake, or a river.

Sachiko Lamen is passionate about engaging local community members in sanctuary management in her role as Advisory Council Coordinator. Drawing on her extensive experience educating people of all ages about the marine environment and promoting stewardship of ocean resources, Sachiko is excited to contribute to the creation of exhibits, outreach materials, and partnerships to celebrate and raise awareness of the sanctuary's rich cultural, marine, and maritime heritage. She started her NOAA career as a 2024 California Sea Grant Fellow with Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary where she supported the sites Advisory Council, resource protection, and education and outreach. She holds a Masters from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management focusing on Conservation Planning and Coastal and Marine Resource Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara. In her free time, Sachiko enjoys being on, and under the water—whether SCUBA diving, spearfishing, surfing, paddling, or just lounging on a floatie. When she's not in the water you can find her camping, skiing, hiking, or reading on the beach.

As the first California Sea Grant fellow for CHNMS, Liz is thrilled to support Sanctuary efforts in resource protection, community engagement, and collaborative stewardship. Liz holds a Master’s Degree in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, with a specialization in ocean and coastal resource management. With a diverse background spanning policy, science, and education, Liz has worked on drafting legislation to protect California’s surf ecosystems, conducting climate vulnerability assessments for coastal communities, and bridging environmental education with the blue economy as an outdoor educator and snorkel tour guide. Passionate about our oceans and coastal communities, Liz is dedicated to promoting sustainable coastal management and climate resilience through collaborative stewardship. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Liz outside—especially anywhere near the ocean. She loves surfing, swimming, yoga, trying new recipes, camping, and simply soaking up nature.

Paul Michel is passionate about marine conservation and informing and inspiring the public about national marine sanctuaries. He was a key member of the team that carried out the designation process for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Paul has more than 37 years of experience in environmental protection at the local, state, federal, and international levels. He is a nationally-recognized leader in wetlands, coast, and ocean management and protection. Paul currently serves as the Senior Advisor for the West Coast Regional Office of NOAA Sanctuaries, and as the Interim Community and Government Affairs Coordinator for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. He is responsible for advising on sanctuary planning and policy for the region and engaging the communities and stakeholders in Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to raise awareness, build partnerships, and encourage participation in sanctuary programs and stewardship, including helping to facilitate the Indigenous Collaborative Co-Stewardship Program.

Mr. Michel was Superintendent of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary from 2007 to 2020. He worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1987 to 2007 in various capacities in Washington, D.C., including a White House assignment in the Office of Management and Budget. In Los Angeles from 1990-1994, he coordinated resource protection programs for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project. From 1995-2003, he led EPA’s efforts to restore and protect wetlands in southern California. From 2003 to 2007, he directed coastal and wetlands protection programs across California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, as well as bi-national environmental programs with Mexico.

Mr. Michel was born and raised in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He earned a Bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee in political science and a Masters degree from Georgia State University in public administration.

Laura Ingulsrud joined NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) as Policy Analyst for the West Coast Regional Office (WCRO) in June 2022. She was heavily involved in the designation process for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS), and will be continuing her involvement now that CHNMS is designated as the Interim Policy and Resource Protection Coordinator, especially as it relates to her WCRO role as Regional Policy Analyst supporting all west coast national marine sanctuaries in these topics. Before becoming a Policy Analyst with the WCRO, Laura worked as a contractor for the WCRO, NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources (OPR), and CINMS in various capacities, and completed the Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship in 2021 as the Marine Mammal Conservation Fellow for OPR. Laura graduated with a Master of Environmental Science and Management degree from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2020, where she specialized in Coastal Marine Resources Management and Conservation Planning with a focus in Environmental Data Science. Laura was also an Ocean Health Index Fellow with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and served on the UCSB Coastal Fund Board of Directors. Before grad school, she worked as an environmental consultant, sailing instructor, marine mammal stranding volunteer, and intern for the Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara, and guided on Mt. Fuji in Japan. Laura graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in Professional Writing from UCSB in 2013.

Andrew Nguyễn is a senior at California State University at Monterey Bay, majoring in Marine Science and minoring in Environmental Science and Cinematic Arts. Despite coming from ocean-less Cincinnati, Ohio, Andrew found an early love for marine life and marine conservation from watching PBS documentaries as a child. His latter half of life, spent in California, has been defined by building connections with the surrounding environment; hiking, camping, kayaking, tidepooling, avid whale watching, wildlife photography, and scuba diving have all taken Andrew on ecologically eye-opening adventures. His passion for conservation and policy comes from witnessing environmental problems firsthand, and seeing how they affect local communities.

Through studies at CSUMB, rearing endangered sunflower stars at Sunflower Star Laboratory, and urchin culling with Giant Kelp Restoration Project, Andrew has gained important insights on how conservation intersects with human interests. He looks forward to working with the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in strengthening the ties between indigenous-led conservation efforts, coastal communities, and California’s beautiful marine ecosystems.