Board & Staff
Staff
Our team of scientists provides innovative scientific solutions to challenges threatening ocean health and marine life in our rapidly changing world. In addition to our researchers is a team that plays a critical role in helping accomplish our mission:
Corporate Officers
Donald B. Kent, M.S., President & CEO
Bethany Smith, M.B.A., Chief Financial OfficerDanielle Haulsee, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer
Development & Community Relations
Courtney Snyder, Development Director
Janine Watts, Communications & Grants Manager
Administrative Staff
Julie Carpenter, Human Resources Coordinator
Dena Leon, Front Office Coordinator
Laura Vega, Accounting ManagerLes Winchester, Facility and Safety Manager
Senior Research Scientists
Research Scientists
Research Assistants & Support Staff
Victor Bach Munoz
Makenna Beehler
Cody Carlson
Andrew Dixon
Matt Elliott
Agatha Fabry
Andrew Fowler
Seth Hendershot
Hayley Heiner
Andrew Jarrett
Joseph Johnson
Mariana Kawakami
Robert Ledesma
Kaycie Lindland
Mac Lofquist
Krystal Mei
Karen Miller McClune
Jax Mikkelsen
Gonzalo Navarro
Megan Quinn
Sam Rangel
Kaelen Reed
Sabrina Romeo
Kayla Roy
Paolo Soto
Ricardo Suarez
Maddie Wilmot
Other Affiliated Scientists
Liz Gagneron (Research Associate)
Rebecca Gentry (Research Fellow)
Michael Rust, Ph.D. (Research Fellow)
Board of Trustees
Chairman Emeritus
Milt Shedd (deceased)
Chair Emeritus, Science Committee
Dr. Clark Hubbs (deceased)
Executive Committee
Bill Shedd, Chairman of the Board, AFTCO Manufacturing Company, Inc.; Chairman of the Board
Dr. Chris Dold, Chief Zoological Officer, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment; Chair, Science Committee
J. David Gardner, Chairman & CEO, Highland PM, LLC, General Contractor; Chair, Finance Committee and Immediate Past Chair
Michael King, Director of Real Estate & Development, King’s Seafood; Chair, Corporate & Government Relations Committee
Ian K. Stewart, Former Director of Corporate Sustainability, Sempra Energy; Chair, Nominating Commitee
Laurilee Thompson, Owner, Dixie Crossroads; Chair, Development Committee
Robert Weiner, Owner, Star-Box, Inc.; Chair, Audit Committee
The HSWRI Board of Trustees represents a collection of visionary leaders who have distinguished careers in a variety of scientific, corporate, and cultural endeavors. Each Board member brings to the Institute a vision for ocean conservation, a dedication to advance the Institute and its mission, and a dedication to community service.
Board of Trustees
Robert C. Fletcher, Past President, Sportfishing Association of California
Paul Fruchbom, Co-Founder, KDF Communities
Reese Jarrett, President, E. Smith & Company, Inc.
Laura MacKinnon, Senior Social Impact & Sustainability Specialist, Wells Fargo Bank
Ermelinda Ruiz Moretti, Chief Advocate, Chevron Corporation
Louis Zimm, Captain (Retired), UCSD/SIO
Trustees Emeritus
Senator Dede Alpert
Art DeFever (deceased)
Char DeMotte
George L. Gildred (deceased)
Wally Schirra (deceased)
Officers
Donald B. Kent, M.S. President & Chief Executive Officer
Danielle Haulsee, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer
Bethany Smith, M.B.A. Chief Financial Officer/Secretary