We are excited to welcome our Fall 2025 Marine Education & Conservation Interns to REEF! They will assist with education, outreach, events, and more at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo. Since 1993, more than 150 young adults have interned with REEF and transitioned into careers all over the world, in the marine conservation field and beyond. Please join us in welcoming Sammy, Rebecca, Stacie, and Harrison (pictured from L-R). Here's some more about them:
Sammy Brown graduated from the University of Miami with a triple major in marine affairs, political science, and geography & sustainable development. She discovered her passion for education while working as a naturalist at the Key Biscayne Nature Center. She served as president of the Florida Ocean Advocacy Team, which connects students without prior marine experience to ocean advocacy. As a member of the logistics committee for WAVES (Water Advocates and Visionaries for the Environment and Sea), Sammy created a lesson plan in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, helping expand access to marine science in local classrooms. A certified Rescue Diver, she has surveyed sea turtles and volunteered with Mote Marine Laboratory’s coral restoration program. She is excited to join REEF’s team and looks forward to building on her outreach and education skills.
Harrison Gaunt graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in sports business and finance. A lifelong ocean enthusiast, he found his calling in conservation after a volunteer trip to Thailand, where he earned his scuba certification and worked on coral reef restoration. He recently interned at OdySea Aquarium, where he worked on a research project exploring how parrots learn vocalizations. Harrison is excited to join the REEF team and gain hands-on experience in marine science and nonprofit work.
Stacie Strombom graduated from Knox College with a B.A. in environmental studies. In college, she studied abroad in Panama, where she became scuba certified. She began her journey as an environmental educator when she interned as an ecology teacher for the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School. She has also led after school programs and camps at South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in Oregon, where she shared her love of the ocean with kids and adults. She is very excited to develop her educational skills and understanding of marine conservation during her time with REEF.
Rebecca Swartz graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in marine studies. In college she joined a short study abroad course in Palau, where she focused on sustainable resource management and conservation. She also volunteered at the Marine Mammal Care Center, where she led tours and educated the public about the importance of ocean conservation. She also completed Capstone projects on eelgrass restorations throughout Oregon and marine mammal strandings along the coast. Rebecca has had a passion for the ocean since she was young, and is very excited to be part of the the REEF team this fall.
For more information about the Marine Conservation Internship or to apply for an upcoming semester, visit www.REEF.org/internship.