MESM 2022
Bio
Krista Finlay graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2001 with B.A. degrees in Environmental Studies and Geography. She began her environmental career working on the marine reserves program at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and conducting fieldwork for California State Beaches and Parks. With an interest in science education, she was an education specialist at GIRLS Incorporated, designing the national curriculum Earth Action, and working as a marine science instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. In 2005, Krista obtained a Master of Education degree and teaching credentials in Biological Science and Earth Science from UCSB. For 14 years, Krista has inspired and educated students in the Santa Barbara School District, designing curriculum and teaching high school Biology and Advanced Placement Environmental Science courses. Her students participated in the LiMPETS program for eight years and collected data on species in the intertidal zone. Observing negative impacts occurring in the SB coastal ecosystem and volunteering for the Climate Hazards Center researching the effects of warm ocean water anomalies, motivated Krista to pursue a career in environmental science. Specializing in Coastal Marine Resource Management at the Bren School, Krista hopes to develop strategies to marine conservation issues that would support fisheries, species and habitat protection, and coastal ecosystems to mitigate the effects of a changing ocean.