There are some new faces at the Ocean Exploration Center this season. REEF is delighted to welcome four new Marine Education & Conservation Interns for the fall, along with a new Marine Conservation Fellow who is no stranger to Key Largo.
Our interns spend the season working alongside REEF staff on education programs, citizen science, and community outreach, gaining hands-on experience across every part of the organization. Please join us in giving them all a warm welcome.
Ava Tidball
Ava joins us from Collinsville, Illinois, and holds a B.S. in Zoology from Colorado State University. A fascination with coral reef ecology, and particularly the role grazers play in keeping reefs healthy, led to a growing interest in coral restoration and conservation. Outside of work, Ava enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants, and watching movies while crafting. This season, Ava is looking forward to developing public outreach and field work skills, earning a SCUBA certification, and experiencing the Florida Keys firsthand.
Erin Fraser
Erin comes to REEF from Massachusetts and studied zoology at the University of Vermont, with minors in dance and mathematics. A childhood love of the ocean, sparked at the New England Aquarium, later grew into a semester studying marine ecology in South Caicos and a set of diving certifications. When not underwater, Erin enjoys sports, board and card games, reading, and crafting. The goal for this internship is to keep diving and work toward rescue diver and divemaster certifications while contributing to marine conservation.
Sofia Paz
Sofia is from Miami, Florida, and earned a B.A. in Biology with a minor in Marine Biology from Florida International University. Coral restoration work in Costa Rica and marine research in Honduras revealed a passion for combining scientific diving, conservation, and education. Away from the water, Sofia enjoys planning trips, watching movies, and reading. This season is a step toward a career that blends research, education, and hands-on conservation, and a chance to connect with fellow ocean enthusiasts.
Lorien Molstad
Lorien holds a B.S. in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University, with research focused on how people interact with the marine environment. That interest has already led to conservation diving and coral restoration work in Thailand. Lorien hopes to become a conservation educator, bridging a passion for the ocean with education and outreach, and this season at REEF is the next step in that direction.
Camille Beeding, Marine Conservation Fellow
We are also delighted to welcome Camille Beeding as a Marine Conservation Fellow from August 2026 to August 2027. Camille is a familiar face at REEF, having joined us as a Marine Education & Conservation Intern in summer 2025, and we are thrilled to have her back.
Camille earned her B.S. in Coastal Environmental Science with a minor in sociology from Louisiana State University, and studied abroad in both the Bahamas and Mexico as an undergraduate. Having spent her whole life in coastal communities, she is drawn to understanding the relationship between people and the marine environment, and how that connection shapes conservation. During her internship with REEF she earned her PADI Advanced and Rescue diver certifications. She enjoys diving and exploring new places and cultures.
The Marine Conservation Fellow Program launched in 2022 and offers an extended, mentored experience across REEF's education, outreach, and conservation science work.
Welcome aboard
Every one of these positions is a step toward a career in marine conservation, and we are grateful for the energy each of them brings to our programs, our members, and the reefs we all care about.