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​ Schiller Coastal Studies Center

240 Bayview Road, Orr's Island, ME 04066

Alumni

Read more about some of our alumni.
Marine Science Semester profile of Sophie Burchell, Class of 2023

Sophie Burchell ’23

BMSS Year: 2021

Major(s): Biology and Environmental Studies

Minor: Anthropology

Hometown: Kensington, Maryland

"I was working with my friends, on a beautiful island in the Gulf of Maine, and contributing to scientific knowledge—what more could I ask for?"

What drew you to the Marine Science Semester?

The Marine Science Semester initially drew me to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ while I was looking at colleges in high school. After taking courses at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ my first two years, I felt inspired and ready to take the dive and apply this knowledge to the marine field and lab through this hands-on learning experience.

What was the most memorable experience that you had during the semester?

I have a fond memory of doing intertidal fieldwork on Hurricane Island with my peers. We were halfway in the waves, documenting the marine species residing within different square meters of habitat to add to a long-running data project. I was working with my friends, on a beautiful island in the Gulf of Maine, and contributing to scientific knowledge—what more could I ask for?

Profile of Kellie Navarro, Class of 2023

Kellie Navarro ’23

BMSS Year: 2021

Major(s): Biology and Earth and Oceanographic Science

Minor: Education

Hometown: Marion, Massachusetts

"It was the first time I have been able to design my own experiment and completely do it on my own from start to finish."

What inspired you to do the Marine Science Semester?

I actually came to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ to be part of the Marine Science Semester and just wanting to do marine science in general, because I've been interested in it since I was little. It was something that I always knew I wanted to do. I liked science in high school, and I was like, "I really want to continue with it during undergrad." I looked at similar schools and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ had this strong program, which is one of the big reasons that I decided to come here.

What is the most memorable experience that you had during the semester?

I think all the fieldwork was super fun, but I really enjoyed creating my own project and being immersed in what I was doing. I ended up staying in the dorms for a few days throughout my experience! It was the first time I have been able to design my own experiment and completely do it on my own from start to finish.

Alumni profile of Ayana Harscoet, Class of 2021

Ayana Harscoet ’21

BMSS Year: 2018

Major(s): Biology and Environmental Studies

Minor: English

Current Job: 2021-2022 Fulbright ETA in Taiwan

"BMSS was an incredible deep-dive into research."

What drew you to the Marine Science Semester?

At the time, I was interested in pursuing research in ecology and wanted to see what it really meant to "do" science! I’ve since shifted more toward environmental justice, but BMSS was still an incredible deep-dive into research.

What was the most memorable experience that you had during the semester?

Our ten days on the big island of Hawai’i are hard to forget, but so is the time I drove all the way from Boothbay Aquarium to the Coastal Studies Center with a live cod in the trunk!

Alumni Profile of Clayton Starr, Class of 2019

Clayton Starr ’19

BMSS Year: 2017

Major(s)/Minor: English and Environmental Studies

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Job: Environmental and permitting specialist at international renewable energy company Ørsted

"It's pretty unusual for a small school like ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ to have a program where you get that type of field research experience and get to really be in the driver's seat of your research."

What drew you to the Marine Science Semester?

BMSS was a big reason why I came to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ in the first place. It's pretty unusual for a small school like ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ to have a program where you get that type of field research experience and get to really be in the driver's seat of your research. It was definitely a draw for me to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ in general. I'm from New England, and I have always had an attachment to the oceans. Being able to do a program like BMSS while being at a small, really great school—only a biking distance from the ocean—I feel very lucky to have had all of those experiences.

What was the most memorable experience that you had during the semester?

There were a lot! Travel is really special. Being able to design my own research was also cool. You have this really abstract idea and it's really empowering to make an experiment that can take that abstract idea and turn into something physical and get, potentially, pretty telling results. But I would say the biggest thing was that I really loved my faculty mentor, Sarah Kingston. She was one of the first professors who really took an interest in me, and she was really kind, smart, and good to work with. Working with faculty was one of the biggest highlights of the experience.

Alumni Profile of Maya Morduch-Toubman, Class of 2018

Maya Morduch-Toubman ’18

BMSS Year: 2016

Major(s)/Minor: Earth and Oceanographic Science/Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies

Location Bend, Oregon

Currently: In graduate school for my Master of Social Work at Portland State University, and working as an Education Assistant in the Bend-La Pine Public Schools.

"Our trip to Baja, Mexico, was incredible. I had never been to the tropics before, and snorkeling and seeing such different species than we saw in the temperate Gulf of Maine was absolutely incredible."

What inspired you to do the Marine Science Semester?

A lot of what I did at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, I chose by what would get me outside. I did a lot with the Outing Club, loved the field trips with the Earth and Oceanographic Science department, and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Marine Science Semester was a wonderful program for more learning opportunities outside! I was also intrigued by the block system for classes, and I was really excited to try it out.

What is the most memorable experience that you had during the semester?

Our trip to Baja, Mexico, was incredible. I had never been to the tropics before, and snorkeling and seeing such different species than we saw in the temperate Gulf of Maine was absolutely incredible. I was so grateful to get the opportunity for that kind of travel with school. I remember studying for a final exam for hours in an infinity pool—memorizing more than 200 local marine species. 

Alumni Profile of Aidan Coyle, Class of 2017

Aidan Coyle ’17

BMSS Year: 2015

Major(s)/Minor: Biology and History

Location: Seattle, Washington

Currently: A graduate student at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

"I've always had a love of marine science, so I was a fairly easy sell. But hearing about the small size of the group, the intensity of the focus on marine science, and the neat trips really sealed the deal."

What drew you to the Marine Science Semester?

I've always had a love of marine science, so I was a fairly easy sell. But hearing about the small size of the group, the intensity of the focus on marine science, and the neat trips really sealed the deal. 

What was one memorable experience that you had during the semester?

When we were on Kent Island exploring down in the intertidal, we kept lifting up these thick mats of seaweed to see what was underneath. Practically every time, the same critter would scurry out - a European green crab. I'd never seen a single crab species be so incredibly prevalent, and it fascinated me. That really launched me on an interest in the European green crab, which turned into my senior project, and eventually landed me in my grad school program! Alternatively, when we were down in Baja California, we came face-to-face with sea lions - we swam with a whole colony. Swimming with an animal so much larger, faster, and more agile than me was truly awe-inspiring, and a genuine top 10 life experience.

Alumni Profile of Alana Luzzio ’17

Alana Luzzio ’17

BMSS Year: 2015

Major(s)/Minor: Biology

Location: Davis, California

Currently: A second-year PhD student in Ecology studying the endangered Lahontan Cutthroat Trout

"I came back to BMSS to work as a teaching assistant and a laboratory technician. It was nice to see the other side of participating and taking students to do international fieldwork. The two years I did it, we went to Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. The experience of being a staff member and observing how field-based courses are run was really amazing."

What drew you to the Marine Science Semester?

I thought it was a great opportunity to take classes and do fieldwork at the Shiller Center. I felt that it would really give an immersive classroom experience, and it was enticing to me. I also love marine biology, and so those two things put together really nailed it!

What was one memorable experience that you had during the Semester?

I think the fieldwork in Baja California Sur was really amazing. Specifically, we snorkeled with cownose rays and whale sharks! I also came back to BMSS to work as a teaching assistant and a laboratory technician. It was nice to see the other side of participating and taking students to do international fieldwork. The two years I did it, we went to Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. The experience of being a staff member and observing how field-based courses are run was really amazing.

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