2024 Commonwealth Fellow to work on Virginia’s Coastal Resilience Master Plan

Virginia Sea Grant selected University of Virginia Master of Public Policy graduate Gabrielle Rosario as a 2024 Commonwealth Coastal and Marine Policy Fellow. Rosario will work at the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in the Office of Resilience Planning during her fellowship. She will help create an adaptive management plan for the Coastal Resilience Master Plan (CRMP) which aims to enhance long-term resilience against coastal flooding in Virginia. 

During her yearlong Commonwealth Fellowship, she will assist with the next phase of the CRMP as well as updating the Virginia Flood Protection Master Plan. Rosario will further support the work of the Office such as participating in outreach and engagement for the CRMP, staff the Technical Advisory Committee, and supporting the Annual Flood Preparedness Coordination Meeting. 

“Since 2018, multiple Virginia Sea Grant Coastal and Marine Policy Fellows have served with both the Office of the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and most recently with the DCR to support developing Virginia’s Coastal Resilience Master Plan” said Matt Dalon, Office of Resilience Planning Program Manager at the DCR.  

“DCR is excited to continue this partnership on a key issue for coastal Virginia and welcome our new fellow, Gabrielle Rosario, to work on an adaptive management plan for the Coastal Resilience Master Plan,” Dalon said. 

Rosario graduated from the Frank Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy at UVA, where she investigated state-level policy solutions to improve the efficiency of flood buyouts in Virginia by reducing reliance on federal funding.  

“As a longtime resident of the Hampton Roads region, I saw the effects of flooding firsthand, and I felt compelled to get involved by helping coastal communities tackle climate change head-on,” said Rosario. “This fellowship will allow me to help shape policy that builds and ensures coastal resilience, and I am looking forward to aiding areas like my own to protect their residents and environments from flooding.” 

Sponsored by the Virginia Environmental Endowment and VASG, the Commonwealth Fellowship provides educational and professional development opportunities for post-graduates by partnering them with a host office mentor where they receive on-the-job training and hone their professional skills while learning about the policy and management process at the state level. 

Story by Bayleigh Albert / Virginia Sea Grant

Header photo by Aileen Devlin / Virginia Sea Grant