Jessica is a master’s student in Marine Policy at the University of Maine, where she studies small-scale fisheries, community resilience, and inclusive marine governance. Her research draws on hands-on experience, including working as a sternman in Maine’s lobster fishery, and centers community-led inquiry.

She is currently coding interviews from women across multiple fisheries to understand how they are diversifying livelihoods and sustaining Maine’s blue economy. This builds on an oral history project she began working on in her home harbor of Corea, Maine, documenting the often-overlooked knowledge and leadership of women in coastal communities.

With a background in Human Ecology, Jessica brings a systems-thinking lens grounded in lived experience. She supports interdisciplinary research through the 3D Ecosystem Science NRT program and the Social Oceans Lab, guided by a deep connection to the sea and a commitment to equity, storytelling, and stewardship.