Coastal & Ocean Literacy
May 7, 2026
Coastal & Ocean Literacy
February 17, 2026
2026 Summer Interns
Twelve Virginia undergraduate students have been selected as 2026 Virginia Sea Grant Summer Interns. This cohort of students will be spending the summer at universities and extension offices around the Commonwealth, working across a broad range of coastal and marine science projects. Internship project topics include: plastic pollution, outreach and education, aquaculture, predator-prey dynamics, contaminants of emerging concern, and blue crab ecology.
 We look forward to seeing how these twelve summer interns will make an impact on research in coastal Virginia.
Kelly Benyo is an undergraduate student at William & Mary, with plans to study Coastal and Marine Science. Benyo will be working as a Predator-Prey Intern at George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center. In this role, Benyo will investigate predator-prey relationships in tidal freshwater nursery habitats through diet analysis and field experimental work.Â
Miekiah Buster is an undergraduate student at Norfolk State University studying Biology. As an Aquaculture Ambassador Intern, Buster will be working at Virginia Tech’s Seafood Agricultural Research Extension Center, gaining hands-on experience with various aquaculture systems and fish husbandry. Buster will be equipped with technical, professional, and applied research skills to excel in the aquaculture field.
Danayja Cranford is a rising junior at Norfolk State University studying Biology. Cranford will spend the summer at George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center examining predator-prey relationships in tidal freshwater nursery habitats and how invasive species impact these relationships.
Jesse Gutierrez is an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech studying Water: Resources, Policy, and Management. Gutierrez will be serving as a Contaminants of Emerging Concern Intern at Virginia Tech’s Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. In this role, Gutierrez will assist with water quality and quantity monitoring, collecting water and sediment samples, and analyzing samples for common water quality parameters in both field and laboratory settings. Gutierrez will also help with the installation of a floating wetland, along with developing public outreach materials on the presence, prevention, and treatment of PFAS in stormwater systems.
Lily Hoffman is a rising senior at the University of Mary Washington studying Political Science and Environmental Sustainability and Policy. Hoffman will be working in Virginia Beach with Clean Waterways Virginia as their Plastic Pollution Prevention Intern. In this role, Hoffman will be responsible for all things litter prevention, including outreach and education, data collection, planning cleanups, volunteer management, raising funds, and social media management.
Bean Jackson is a student at Brightpoint Community College studying Biology, with prior experince serving in the United States Army. Jackson will be working at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farms as an Aquaculture Technology Intern. In this role, Jackson will be working with a variety of aquaculture systems, such as aquaponics, hydroponics, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), and pond culture. There will also be an opportunity to participate in extension activities like youth fishing, farm tours, and farm events.
Loreley Kincel is a rising junior at William & Mary studying Environment & Sustainability. As an Outreach & Engagement Intern, she will work Office of Outreach and Engagement at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, assisting with K-12 summer camps, teacher professional development opportunities, and public outreach events.
Kayleigh Miller recently graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a B.S. in Marine Science. Miller will be working as an Outreach & Engagement Intern at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS. In this role, Miller will assist with education programming, develop communications materials, and support public outreach initiatives.
Leila Ricks is an undergraduate student at Hampton University studying Marine and Environmental Science. Ricks will be working as an Aquaculture Ambassador Intern at Virginia Tech’s Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center. She will learn about Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), hydroponics, aquaponics, live feed production, fish breeding, and other skills that will allow Ricks to excel in the aquaculture field.
Juliana Rosso is a rising senior at William & Mary studying Biology. As the Blue Crab Disease Ecology Intern, Rosso will be working with researchers at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, assisting with ongoing laboratory and field studies focused on understanding the transmission dynamics of Hematodinium perezi, an important pathogen of blue crabs. Rosso will help design appropriate experiments for disease studies, understand how environmental factors and species interactions facilitate transmission, and analyze data from these experiments.
Madelyn Shelton is an undergraduate student at William & Mary, with plans to study Coastal and Marine Science. As an Outreach & Engagement Intern, she will work closely with the Office of Outreach and Engagement at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS to promote hands-on, experiential learning in marine science. Shelton will help with the preparation of materials, activity facilitation, and the collection and analysis of program evaluation data.
Ysabel Wells is an undergraduate student at Longwood University studying Chemistry. As a Contaminants of Emerging Concern Intern, Wells will work at Virginia Tech’s Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center to assist with water quality monitoring, collecting water and sediment samples, and analyzing samples for common water quality parameters. Wells will also help install a floating wetland and create public outreach materials on PFAS in stormwater systems.
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