Jess leads marine resource protection efforts at CMSF, where she also serves as a NOAA affiliate supporting the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ West Coast Region in its groundbreaking whale conservation initiatives. With over eight years of experience, Jess oversees and coordinates CMSF’s flagship programs, including the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program. Her work involves engaging directly with shipping lines, analyzing complex vessel and whale data, and implementing innovative strategies to reduce ship strikes and protect marine mammals.
Jess is also a sought-after advisor and speaker on whale conservation strategies, lending her expertise to critical discussions on safeguarding whales in a rapidly changing climate. She recently co-organized an international workshop focusing on transboundary conservation efforts, bringing together global stakeholders to tackle shared challenges in whale protection.
Before joining CMSF, Jess honed her skills as a California Sea Grant Fellow with NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Her earlier work includes population and behavioral field research on humpback, North Atlantic right, and killer whales across both U.S. coasts, along with policy research examining the ecological and regulatory impacts of fisheries management.
Jess holds a Master of Arts in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Skidmore College. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking elaborate meals, taking long trail runs with her dogs, and spending time with her family and young daughter.
