By Margaret Pizer
The Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship matches highly qualified graduate students with “hosts” in the legislative or executive branch of government located in the Washington, D.C. area, for a one-year paid fellowship. Virgnia’s 2013 Knauss Fellows will begin their fellowships in February.
Theresa Davenport will spend her Knauss fellowship as an analyst in NOAA’s Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (PPE). She will help set the course for NOAA by helping develop a 5 year strategic plan for research and development and by helping the office stay up-to-date on emerging science and policy issues.
Davenport, who has a master’s in marine science from VIMS, says she is looking forward to being part of the team that helps shape NOAA’s research direction and helping ensure that the best available research is used to inform policy decisions. “My main goal for the Knauss fellowship is to gain an understanding of how scientific research can be designed and communicated to better accommodate the needs of end users,“ she says.
Gabrielle Saluta will be a Legislative Fellow for U.S. Representative Madeleine Bordallo of Guam. She will be responsible for assisting the representative with a variety of environmental and fisheries issues by preparing for and attending committee meetings and hearings, tracking relevant legislation, helping to draft legislation, and meeting with constituents.
“I chose Guam because of the wide breadth of interesting issues, from protecting coral reefs to managing indigenous fishing practices,” says Saluta, who holds a master’s in marine science from VIMS. “This year in DC will not only be informative but it will be instrumental in helping me choose a career route in management, policy or education.”