Staff Directory

Tracy Quinn

Tracy Quinn serves as President and CEO of Heal the Bay, leading the dynamic team of scientists, policy experts, outreach specialists, and educators in pursuit of its clean water mission. Tracy has dedicated her career to improving water quality in our rivers and ocean and ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable water for all Californians. Tracy started her career as an engineer, designing water infrastructure in Southern California and working with municipal and industrial clients to improve water quality. Most recently, Tracy served as the Director of California Urban Water Policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council where she led efforts to pass and implement climate adaption legislation and improve climate resilience and water affordability throughout California. Tracy received her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Engineering in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University and is a licensed civil engineer in California.

Email tquinn@healthebay.org

Richard Wegman

Richard’s activism spans 50+ years working for Peace, Social Justice, Conservation, Health, Music and the Environment. He holds a BS in marketing and an MBA in Finance,  

His experience runs from producing and managing large benefit concerts for the Anti-Nuclear Power movement, the peace movement, Breast Cancer, and advocating for social and environmental justice.  

Richard worked as CFO for a local PR agency that created the first curbside recycling program in Los Angeles, a program then spread throughout the country. He spent six years running as COO of TreePeople, working on stormwater issues, tree planting, and managing a Capital Campaign. He has also worked as COO of Global Green USA, a national non-profit based in Santa Monica (part of an international organization of Green Cross,) and in 2020, as lead for Kiss the Ground as COO, guiding them through a phase of fast paced growth after the film the release of “Kiss the Ground” the film.

He has taught Yoga for 27 years and has been a practitioner for over 34 years. In addition, he is a breathwork facilitator and Reiki Healer.  

Richard is currently on the Board of Directors for of Amazon Watch, Heart of Yoga, and the Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs organization (a fiscal sponsor organization).

Meredith McCarthy

Celebrating 20 years at Heal the Bay!

Meredith operates in the connective tissues of where science and policy meet community. As an avid scuba diver, she has seen firsthand what putting too much in, taking too much out, and ignoring the edge of the ocean has done to our coastal systems. She remains committed to Heal the Bay’s mission of protecting the health of this precious resource and the 11 million people who benefit from it.

Email mmccarthy@healthebay.org

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Dana Smith

Dana serves as Executive Assistant to CEO Tracy Quinn and serves as coordinator between the Board of Directors and staff.  She is a dynamic office manager coordinating scheduling and internal staff meetings, programs and board presentations.

Dana brings over a decade of Executive Assistant experience working with C-level venture capital firms, real estate companies as well as eight years of HR experience. 

Dana has always been passionate about the ocean waters and doing the right thing and now works to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to enjoy safe and clean water as she did growing up. 

Dana loves living on the west side of Los Angeles and loves spending time with her daughter and friends, from summit to sea, hiking in the mountains on the weekend and playing in the surf around Marina Del Ray.

Email dsmith@healthebay.org

Gabriele Morgan

Gabriele has been the face, voice, and administrative angel of Heal the Bay for nearly 20 years. She can answer any question about the organization and the Bay with ease and keeps the office running smoothly. When not manning her post as velvet rope/bouncer/concierge, she can probably be found in her recording studio.

Email gmorgan@healthebay.org

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Alvin Lam

Alvin graduated from UCLA, but more importantly, unlike Frank Drebin, he doesn’t love swimming in raw sewage. It’s this aversion that led him to Heal the Bay where he helps the team attract lovers of clean water (yes, that was a reference to the 90’s classic, Naked Gun 2 ½).

Email alam@healthebay.org

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Fandi Ma

Fandi Ma holds the role of Associate Data Specialist, focusing on projects related to data integration automation and Salesforce at Heal the Bay. She possesses a strong passion for enhancing data processing efficiency within the organization, driven by her desire to directly contribute to environmental sustainability and the journey towards a more sustainable future. Fandi completed her master’s degree in Analytics from the University of Southern California in December 2022, further equipping her with the skills and knowledge to excel in her role and make a positive impact on Heal the Bay’s mission

Email fma@healthebay.org

Shaun Crutcher

Shaun embodies a deep passion for environmental advocacy and understands the critical role that accurate and reliable data plays in achieving our organization’s goals. With a strong commitment to making a positive impact, Shaun is well-versed in leveraging Salesforce to streamline processes and improve business productivity. She is determined to develop tailored solutions that align with current business practices, ensuring efficient and effective data management throughout the organization.

Email scrutcher@healthebay.org

Andrea Weaver

Andrea is a mother, advocate, 2nd generation birth worker (Doula), and proudly hales from Oakland, California. Her experience is informed by over a decade of impact, and human-centric work as a consultant, facilitator, and strategist within diversity equity and inclusion tech and nonprofit spaces. As a forever learner and practicing yogi who values family, she enjoys spending her free time exploring the city and spending time in amazing community spaces.

Email aweaver@healthebay.org

Sheila McSherry

Sheila provides guidance on Heal the Bay’s overall fundraising strategy, including leveraging corporate partnerships and stewarding the organization’s foundation relationships. Before joining Heal the Bay in 2005, she raised money for a public health non-profit in Los Angeles. She is a South Bay native, graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz, and is also a musician. Her favorite beach destination is somewhere along Costa Rica.

Email smcsherry@healthebay.org

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John Seiber

John Seiber brings more than 25 years of non-profit experience to his role as VP, Development.  He began his career at Caring for Babies with AIDS and since has raised nearly $150,000,000 for causes including the environment, children with critical illnesses, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, international children’s well-being, muscular dystrophy, homelessness, and food insecurity.  Heal the Bay is coming home for John who started as a beach cleanup volunteer and led the Development team from 2007 to 2011.

Email jseiber@healthebay.org

Alex Babcock

Alex is a fundraising professional with experience crafting effective strategies that drive sustained revenue growth and donor loyalty. With roots deeply entwined in a love for nature, you’ll likely find Alex knee-deep in the earth in her free time, caring for her garden or playing with her beloved rescue animals. With a lifelong fascination for marine life, and a penchant for whale watching, Alex is fueled by the calming force of the ocean and driven to protect our coastal systems. Alex channels this passion into forging and nurturing corporate partnerships, ensuring synergy between business objectives and Heal the Bay’s clean water mission and other priorities.

Email ababcock@healthebay.org

Britta Bucholz

Britta is a contractor who stewards relationships with individuals and family foundations in support of Heal the Bay’s major donor program.

Britta’s fundraising career began at City of Hope in Southern California, where she oversaw fundraising within the Music & Entertainment, Fashion and Beauty Industries. Most recently, Britta spent the last three years with Share Our Strength. In her role as the Director of Development of California for the No Kid Hungry campaign, she oversaw all fundraising efforts across the state, focusing on principal and major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and events. Prior to working with No Kid Hungry, Britta served as the Vice President of Philanthropy at the Starkey Hearing Foundation developing and implementing strategy for Starkey Hearing Technologies and Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Fun fact: Britta was on the swim team for the University of Miami, FL.

Email bbucholz@healthebay.org

Garen Pekacheky

Garen serves as the Senior Development Specialist in the Development Department where he is responsible for sustaining the Heal the Bay membership program and assuring that all donors questions and concerns are addressed. Garen was born in Iran and immigrated to the United States early on. Having the opportunity to live in various countries helped Garen understand how the environment, including water quality and availability, can affect public health. This was the leading reason he decided to attend CSULA and get his B.S in Public Health. That, however, was not enough for Garen, who previously worked for LGBTQ advocacy groups, HIV/AIDS organizations and nonprofits which assist with refugee relocation. As a result, Garen attended graduate school in Rome, Italy to study Economic Governance and Policy and gained more in-depth knowledge of environmental science and the importance of maintaining the environment. When he is not working, Garen is traveling around the world.

Email gpekacheky@healthebay.org

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Antonio Esquivel

Antonio was born in Los Angeles and grew up along the California coastline. From a young age, he enjoyed visiting beaches and aquariums where he would explore his passion for marine life and the ocean. He enjoys working with people and sharing this passion with others. Drawing from a background in psychology, he works to connect people with Heal the Bay. As the Senior Development Coordinator, Antonio collaborates with corporate partners and supporters to further the organization’s mission, engaging people in exploring marine pollution through the Suits on the Sand program. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, diving, hiking, and eating ramen.

Email aesquivel@healthebay.org

Marslaidh Ryan

Marslaidh (pronounced like parsley) studied Environmental Science at the University of Oregon, Aquarium Science at Saddleback College, and Fisheries and Wildlife Science at Oregon State University. She began her career in public aquariums over fifteen years ago gaining experience in areas such as marine science education, animal husbandry, life support systems, and facility operations. She has worked and volunteered in various institutions as she made her way down the coast, such as the Marine Mammal Center, Aquarium of the Bay, Aquarium of the Pacific, and the California Science Center. She dives locally as an active PADI Divemaster and Scientific Diver, and is a member of the Grunions US Masters swim team.

Email mryan@healthebay.org

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Laura Rink

Laura Rink, is the Associate Director of Operations for the Heal the Bay Aquarium. In this role, Laura oversees the maintenance of aquarium exhibits, animal care and drives forward sustainability and conservation initiatives related to our local ocean ecosystems. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Aquatic Biology, Laura has spent the last 15 years working in the aquarium industry at facilities housing diverse collections of aquatic life.  Her previous positions include Curator at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney, Senior Aquarist at The California Science Center, and Aquarist for the Calvert Marine Museum along the Chesapeake Bay. 

Email lrink@healthebay.org

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Qianna Clavel

Qianna attended Orange Coast College and majored in Marine Science. She earned her certificate in aquarium science in 2022 and her AALSO level 1 life support operator certification in 2021. She has worked at the Dennis Kelly Aquarium, Quality Marine and was also part of the Education department at the Aquarium of the Pacific while volunteering in the Shark Lagoon. She has loved the ocean and marine life since she was a child and now brings that passion to the Heal the Bay Aquarium team. Qianna used to be a competitive cheerleader and now enjoys surfing and exploring local tide pools.

Email qclavel@healthebay.org

Kelly Kelly

Kelly is responsible for managing the Education Department programs, where we teach bright-eyed students, campers, and teachers about the local coastal ecology, marine animals, and human impacts and solutions. After graduating from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Human Biology, in 2010, she completed shark research internships in both Florida and Hawaii, but found she loved environmental education, where she can learn, teach, inspire, and work in conservation all at the same time. She has been with Heal the Bay Aquarium for almost 10 years now, where she first started as an intern and naturalist in 2014. She’s also interned at Aquarium of the Pacific, worked at the LA Zoo and the Science Learning Center at CSU Long Beach while working on her master’s in Informal Science Education. When not working, Kelly loves seeing live music, doing DIY home projects, and being a new mom. 

Email kkelly@healthebay.org

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Robert Ramos

Robert Ramos is an aspiring marine biologist from Philadelphia. He discovered his passion for marine science while attending college at Wesleyan University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in both Biology and Environmental Science. Once graduated, Robert found his way out to California by participating in an AmeriCorps internship on Catalina Island building nature trails. Eventually, Robert was welcomed into the Heal the Bay family as the Education and Outreach Coordinator, and then as the Education Manager where he works to educate and inspire young people to become stewards of their environment.

Email rramos@healthebay.org

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Jenna Segal

Jenna earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Northeastern University, and coordinates with educators, event planners and others who wish to use the facilities. She also acts as liaison with various city agencies and Santa Monica Pier neighbors, and oversees the facility’s public hours and retail operations. Originally from Massachusetts, Jenna moved out west to enjoy the sunshine and study marine science. She started her career at Heal the Bay as an Aquarium and MPA Watch volunteer, and officially joined the staff in 2012.

Email jsegal@healthebay.org

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Cat Baklarz

Cat loves our ocean for its wildlife, wonder, and its importance for the global climate. Through volunteer work with the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, Friends of the Ballona Wetlands, and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, she has learned that the Los Angeles coastline offers endless opportunities for exploration and many unique challenges for conservation. Cat earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from USC and works to help connect visitors at the Santa Monica Aquarium with their environment. She loves kayaking, art, and storytelling.

Email Cbaklarz@healthebay.org

Crystal Sandoval

Crystal is a graduate student in Environmental Education and Communication at Royal Roads University, and is working on her thesis involving embodied learning and developing sense of place and ecological identity while practicing Lua, a Hawaiian martial art. She graduated from UCLA in 2015 with a degree in Linguistics and Anthropology with a minor in Conservation Biology, and spent the next three years on the JET program, teaching English at a high school in Ishikawa, Japan. Crystal has grown up in Los Angeles and hopes to inspire passion in others for marine conservation and to help build healthy relationships with our coastal neighbors. Crystal also uses they/them pronouns, and when they are not practicing martial arts or talking about sea cucumbers, they may be leading games of Dungeons and Dragons.

Email csandoval@healthebay.org

Justin Green

Justin Green is a local student who attends Santa Monica High School. He started his time at Heal the Bay as a Public Programs volunteer in 2019 and joined the Public Programs team in 2022. He enjoys connecting with visitors at the aquarium and sharing his knowledge and passion for local marine life. He also assists our operations team with animal life support, animal care, and exhibit maintenance as an Aquarist. In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, hanging out with friends, and his work with the Youth Entrepreneurship Association.

Email jgreen@healthebay.org

Shihab Chowdhury

Shihab, who prefers to go by “Sun”, is a lifelong learner. He discovered his passion for science as a student at Santa Monica College. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in environmental science (with a focus on plant physiology) from the University of California Santa Cruz, his aspiration for knowledge has grown through volunteering and working in education. Sun’s hobbies include cultivating bonsai trees, writing poetry, slacklining and hopes to inspire a new generation of nature lovers through his work at Heal the Bay Aquarium.

Email schowdhury@healthebay.org

Annie Lopez

Annie graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2017 with a bachelor’s in Environmental Science. She’s passionate about connecting with others and creating equitable educational opportunities for people to learn more about the environment and how they can become environmental stewards. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, watching sunsets at the beach, and spending time with her family.

Email alopez@healthebay.org

Jimmy Chapman

Jimmy specializes in marine mammal training, aquatic systems maintenance, and husbandry of birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Jimmy has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from California State University, Long Beach, and an Associates of Arts in General Sciences and an Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts, with honors, from Santa Monica College.  As Aquarium Programs Associate at Heal the Bay Aquarium, Jimmy supports the education, public programs, and animal care teams. He is a former zookeeper at the Santa Ana Zoo overseeing animals and exhibits, which included Bactrian and Dromedary camels, ocelots, and the Colors of the Amazon Aviary exhibit. From 2004-2020, Chapman held a range of husbandry and education positions, most recently at the Aquarium of the Pacific as Mammalogist III. In this position, he oversaw the Southern sea otter exhibit, worked with California sea lions, harbor seals, lorikeets, penguins, alcids, shorebirds, and amphibians. Jimmy has been a member of SAG AFTRA One Union since 2000, and volunteers with the Little Lion Foundation’s Long Beach Little Paws Project. He loves gardening, everything Hawaii, and everything Janet Jackson.

Email jchapman@healthebay.org

Destiny Moreno

Destiny graduated from California State University of Long Beach with a B.S. in Marine Biology. She recently returned from a four month stay on Catalina Island where she rigorously studied fish and photosynthesis in brown algae. She has a love for all marine life, and gets very excited about everything marine invertebrate and algae. She is passionate about spreading marine knowledge to kids who do not have the resources readily available to them. In her free time, she spends a lot of time snorkeling, reading, watching movies, and volunteering as an assistant basketball coach at a local middle school.

Email dmoreno@healthebay.org

Emma Butcher

Email ebutcher@healthebay.org

Lizzy Schwegler

Lizzy recently graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in marine biology and a minor in environmental science and policy. In her free time, she volunteers with the Aquarium of the Pacific as an aquarist and the Marine Mammal Care Center to help with seal rehabilitation. She loves all ocean creatures and is passionate about conservation. She also loves swimming, reading, going to concerts, and spending time with her family and friends. She would love to learn more about animal care and hopes to pursue a career working with sharks or marine mammals.

Email lschwegler@healthebay.org

Jillian Marshall

Jillian grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in English. She has received a Princeton Prize for Race Relations and is passionate about communicating the importance of both environmental conservation and social justice as the co-chair of Heal the Bay’s Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion Commitee. Jillian is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation (Long Island, NY) and is always looking forward to the next in-person Pow Wow. When she is not enjoying beach yoga or attempting to surf, you can find her reading anything by Octavia Butler or hiking the road less traveled.

Jillian Marshall’s role includes managing Heal the Bay creative communications including graphic design, social media, brand management, event marketing, website administration and message placement.  Jillian brings a portfolio of ad agency, brand marketing, and graphic design to coordinate and organize Heal the Bay’s public facing programs and events.  Jillian also serves as a press liaison.

Email at JMarshall@healthebay.org 

Journalists, please email communications@healthebay.org

Email jmarshall@healthebay.org

Cameron Weeks

Cameron is the Digital & Public Relations Communications Senior Coordinator at Heal the Bay. Cameron supports Heal the Bay’s creative marketing and public relations outreach. She has a background in art and music marketing with an extensive knowledge of creative nonprofit development and digital communications strategy. She is an LA native with a life-long passion for environmental, animal, and human rights advocacy. Cameron holds a BS in Music Technology from The University of the Arts and an MA in Aesthetics & Politics from California Institute of the Arts.

Email cweeks@healthebay.org

Dr. Katherine Pease

Katherine leads the Science, Policy & Outreach team in tackling pressing water quality, ecological, and public health issues facing the people and ecosystems of greater Los Angeles. She brings her scientific expertise to advance policy and enact change locally and statewide. Katherine is an advocate for improving riparian ecosystems, protecting public health at freshwater recreation areas, pushing for action on DDT contamination, and promoting wetland restoration, among other things. Katherine joined Heal the Bay in 2011 as the Watershed Scientist, assessing the water quality and biological health of greater L.A.’s watersheds. Katherine studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Barnard College and earned a Ph.D. from UCLA, where she developed a strong connection to LA’s local waterways through her research in the streams of the Santa Monica Mountains and exploring the LA River. Katherine is passionate about freshwater ecosystems and loves to explore L.A. 

Email kpease@healthebay.org

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Nancy Shrodes

In her newest role, Nancy is the Watershed Coordinator for the South Santa Monica Bay, along side an amazing team. She looks forward to supporting communities across this watershed and in the greater Los Angeles region to achieve high water quality outcomes through projects that have multi-benefits with a focus on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

She continues to connect our technical work to our outreach programming. She passionately works to educate local community members and protect our watersheds and has done so for nearly 9 years at Heal the Bay. While spearheading our campaigns, Nancy earned her Master’s Degree in Water Resource Engineering at LMU, with a certificate in Sustainability. Having grown up in the South Bay, you can find her spending her free time on the volleyball courts or in the water body surfing.

Email nshrodes@healthebay.org

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Alexia Skrbic

Alexia was born and raised in Southern California and spent her youth discovering her love for marine biology. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology and Environmental Science from Chapman University and Masters in Marine Conservation from the University of Miami in Florida. She has spent the last decade working in marine science education, working with several conservation organizations on science communication, outreach, and policy, and as a naturalist on a whale watching boat. She continues to share her passion for conservation at Heal the Bay as Senior Watershed Coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys working out, hiking, going to the beach, scuba diving, tidepooling, and traveling.

Email askrbic@healthebay.org

Babetta Aguirre

Babetta is a Senior Outreach Watershed Coordinator with extensive knowledge in public outreach and community engagement. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a minor in Bioethics from Loyola Marymount University. Coming from the healthcare field, Babetta is well aware of community health needs and is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of watershed conservation for community members. In her free time, Babetta enjoys volunteering at animal shelters, taking Pilates classes, and being the “favorite” aunt of four boys.

Email baguirre@healthebay.org

Kayleigh Wade

Kayleigh (she/they) is Heal the Bay’s Senior Manager of Outreach and is proudly from Lynwood, CA. She earned her BA in Chicana/o Studies and LGBTQ Studies from UCLA in 2016. With 10 years of organizing experience, her commitment to social justice has played out in a variety of spaces – from organizing with fellow students at Santa Monica College to prevent the privatization of general education courses, to organizing closely with youth of color on environmental justice issues in Southeast LA, to supporting girl-identified youth at the coolest rock camp of all time, Chicas Rockeras de Sur Este Los Angeles. She is a volunteer with Latino Outdoors and partakes in water recreation with Queer Surf. In their spare time, she likes going to restaurants, reflecting on water justice’s connection to her environmental work, cooking for loved ones, taking up new skills like fly fishing, going on walks around the LA River, and hanging out with her pet babies Penny and Oats.

Email kwade@healthebay.org

Annelisa Moe

Annelisa helps to keep L.A. water clean and safe by advocating for comprehensive and science-based water quality regulation and enforcement. Before joining the team at Heal the Bay, she worked with the Regional Water Quality Control Board in both the underground storage tank program and the surface water ambient monitoring program. Annelisa completed her master’s degree in geological sciences at CSU Northridge. In her free time she enjoys caving, canyoneering and scuba diving.

Email amoe@healthebay.org

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Emily Parker

Emily works to keep our oceans and marine ecosystems healthy and clean by advocating for strong legislation and enforcement both locally and statewide. She focuses on plastic pollution, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and climate change related issues. Before arriving at Heal the Bay, Emily earned a M.A.S in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, where she conducted research on sea turtle conservation in El Salvador. When not advocating for ocean rights, Emily can almost always be found on the shore catching a wave or soaking up some LA sunshine.

Email eparker@healthebay.org

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Dr. Alison Xunyi Wu

Alison is passionate about using data and science to provide the public with the information they need to avoid environmental microbial pollutants. She is currently working on the NowCast models, Beach Report Card, and River Report Card programs by collecting and analyzing environmental bacterial datasets. Alison has a B.S. in Environmental Science from UCLA, and she earned her Ph.D. from California Institute of Technology with a focus in detection and monitoring of waterborne pathogens. As a music enthusiast, Alison plays instruments including violin and bass guitar during her free time. She also enjoys going outdoors for archery, snowboarding, and camping.

Email xwu@healthebay.org

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Dr. Tania Pineda-Enriquez

Dr. Pineda-Enriquez was born and raised in Mexico and has been passionate about marine sciences for as long as she can remember. Tania is an evolutionary biologist with a B.S. in Biology from UNAM, a M.S in Marine Biology from UNAM-ICMYL, and a Ph.D. from University of Florida in 2022. She’s fascinated by the diversity of marine invertebrates, especially how brittle stars or ophiuroids from tropical reef habitats across the oceans can help understand global biodiversity patterns, and so far she has named nine species new to science. Tania has been an active member of research labs, have actively mentored students, participated in field expeditions (across Latin America, US, and Thailand) and conducted research in more than eight countries. She now serves as a Water Quality Data Associate with Heal the Bay to provide the public with science-based recommendations about the quality of the water. In her free time, Tania likes to explore nature and travelling with her husband and two kids.

Email tpineda@healthebay.org

Elia Narváez

Elia Narváez is a proud Angelino native with a passion for ocean conservation. She graduated with a bachelor’s in Marine Biology from CSU Northridge and started as an MPA Watch intern at Heal the Bay in 2023. She is now working as part of the angler outreach program to bring awareness to anglers about the dangers of consuming contaminated fish. When not working with anglers, Elia is most likely online window shopping and looking for her next adventure.

Email enarvaez@healthebay.org

Zoë Collins

Zoë assists Heal the Bay’s outreach team through the Angler Outreach Program (AOP) and Suits on the Sand (SOS) program. Her work includes educating pier anglers about fish contaminated with DDT and PCBs, making them unsafe to consume. In addition, she joins our outreach efforts through beach cleanups, public education, and more. She graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B.S. in Marine Biology and has an avid passion for connecting people to their waterways, advocating for environmental conservation, and creating a Los Angeles more resilient to our changing climate. Her experience has brought her from tabling for environmental bills stuck in the assembly all the way to the ocean floor in the deep-submergence vehicle Alvin as part of a research expedition studying microbial mats. Outside of her passion for the ocean, she loves pottery, writing, and 2000’s rom-coms.

Email zcollins@healthebay.org

Stephanie Gebhardt Rath

Stephanie organizes Heal the Bay’s beach cleanups and community beautification projects. With experience in sustainability consulting and science communication, she unites Angelenos in protecting what they love. Originally from Pomona California, Stephanie traveled to Boston to earn her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College, during which time she spent summers at home interning for Heal the Bay. She then earned her master’s degree in Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona’s Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, focusing on the sustainability of Southern California’s craft breweries. Stephanie took a slight hiatus from the non-profit sector during the four years prior to rejoining Heal the Bay in order to become an Anheuser-Busch Craft Master Brewer at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, California. Now, when she’s not organizing on the beach, you may find her and her trusty equestrian stead, Strider, training for their next endurance ride or enjoying a tasting flight at a local brewery with her wife and pups.

Email sgebhardtrath@healthebay.org

Crystal Barajas

Crystal (She/Her/Ella) was born and raised in Los Angeles. She earned her B.S. in Aquatic Biology at UC Santa Barbara. She works at Heal the Bay as their Senior Community Science and Outreach Coordinator, working as part of the MPA Watch program to recruit and train community scientists on how to monitor our marine protected areas (MPAs) and organizing eDNA (environmental DNA) water sampling events with our partners from UCLA. She also works on the Angler Outreach program, educating anglers on the piers about contaminated fish. She plans to one day have a career in marine biology/ ocean conservation. On her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, wanting to surf, and spending time with friends and family.

Email cbarajas@healthebay.org

Lili Khosravi

Lili is the Beach Programs Associate. She graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Biology. She was raised in Los Angeles after immigrating to the United States from Iran at an early age. She has a strong passion for ocean conservation and coastal resource management. Coming from a pre-med background, Lili understands the important connection between environmental health and human health. She spends most of her time reading and hanging out with her puppy.

Email lkhosravi@healthebay.org

Tayler Locke

Tayler is a graduate student at the University of Southern California and holds an undergraduate degree from California State University, Long Beach. Growing up on the west side of Los Angeles instilled in her a deep affinity for coastal living from an early age. Her interest in environmental policy was sparked during her undergraduate studies, where she engaged in sustainable energy engineering research through an interdisciplinary lens— focusing on risk communication and the sociological dynamics of outreach. An adept communicator, Tayler is passionate about and experienced in coordinating technology, science, and education programs and is always eager to manage positive change and advocate for justice. In her free time, she’s a huge busy bee. She often attends live music events and travels to find the best food and outdoor adventures the world has to offer.

Email tlocke@healthebay.org