Sia is a native Angeleno who spent the last four years obtaining her B.S. in Marine Biology at the University of Hawai’i. While she harnessed her scientific and communication skills in Hawai’i, her appreciation for the ocean started by attending educational outreach events in Santa Monica, along with spending weekends at the California Science Center. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the foraging behaviors of the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle and their resurgence in the Hawaiian islands. Sia has a curious interest in the secret world of bioacoustics and hopes to find ways to mitigate noise pollution in marine environments. She likes to watch fantasy movies, such as the Star Wars trilogies, or The Lord of the Rings, but also loves to explore new music genres and it helps her to connect to new people. As part of the SCWP, Sia desires to establish long-lasting connections within her community – helping people and the environment through science-based action.

Surfing sparked Felipe’s deep connection to the ocean, and ever since, he has been fully dedicated to its conservation and protection. Originally from Brazil, Felipe is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Sustainability at Santa Monica College. His diverse background includes experience in sales and hospitality, but his primary experience is as a Surf Instructor. He loves sharing his passion for surfing with others while emphasizing the importance of preserving the ocean and its ecosystems.

Tayler is a graduate student at the University of Southern California. Fight On! Born and raised in west Los Angeles, she’s had a deep affinity for coastal living from an early age. Her professional venture into environmental policy and outreach came after a pivot from tech to pursue a path that more closely aligned with her values and academic research— focusing on climate risk communication and the sociological dynamics of environmental NGOs. She quickly found a home at Heal the Bay. An adept communicator, Tayler manages Heal the Bay’s flagship beach programs, heading projects that advance sustainable living, equitable water quality, and conservation sciences. In her free time, she watches Shrek, tends to her onion farm, and forces her introverted partner to do extroverted things with her. She loves singing and dancing but is not very good at either.

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.

Stephanie takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving environmental problems. To her, truly sustainable solutions are equitable for all, dynamic and resilient to change, and based in nature. You may have seen Stephanie previously out on the beach, leading Heal the Bay’s cleanups. Stephanie pursued her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies at Wellesley College and received her Master’s of Science in Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona’s Lyle Center. As a SoCal native who has lived on both coasts, Stephanie is proud to say the West Coast is the best coast. After graduate school, she took a slight hiatus from the non-profit sector and became an Anheuser-Busch Craft Master Brewer at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, California. What the beer industry and total watershed health have in common is a strong demand for protected water quality and people who care deeply about the purity and consistency of what pours out of their tap. Now, when she’s not working to protect our watersheds, you may find her at the barn with her horses or enjoying a local beer with her wife and pups.

Nancy leads our watershed team and serves as the Watershed Coordinator for the South Santa Monica Bay through LA County’s Safe Clean Water Program. Through her role in this program, she works alongside communities, agencies, cities, and various organizations to achieve better water quality outcomes with stormwater capture projects that have multiple benefits. Protecting public health and the environment go hand in hand, and she’s passionate about working towards sustainable solutions that will make LA more climate resilient. Working at Heal the Bay since 2012, she continues to educate local community members, protect our watersheds, and connect our technical work with our outreach programming. 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.