Our Team

Samantha is a rising senior at West Chester University of PA studying Sociology as well as Environmental Health. As her passion for protecting the environment grew over recent years, she sought out Save Barnegat Bay in order to pursue her interests and make a positive impact on the Jersey Shore where she has lived all her life. By working as an Education and Outreach intern this summer, Samantha is excited to share the importance of protecting Barnegat Bay with others as well as empowering them with the tools to do so.

I'm Raylan Gisinger and I'm from Toms River, NJ. I'm interning this summer to be able to obtain new experiences and learn new things about a field that I love. I'm a graduate of Ocean County College and about to obtain my bachelor's degree at Stockton University. I'm familiar with a large amount of the Pine Barrens flora. In my free time, I enjoy going to renaissance festivals.

Nicole is a senior at Georgian Court University earning a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in sustainability. Nicole also has an associate degree in social science from Brookdale Community College. Growing up in Monmouth and Ocean counties, Nicole has loved enjoying its parks and beaches. She hopes to protect these outdoor spaces so that others get the opportunity to enjoy them for generations to come. She will be working with Save Barnegat Bay on environmental justice in the region.  

As a purpose-driven professional with expertise in International Relations and Entrepreneurship, I am dedicated to advancing a sustainable future through strategic insights, digital innovation, and creative solutions. Passionate about addressing climate adaptation and systemic inequities, I excel in applying research, policy analysis, and community engagement to deliver meaningful and lasting impact.

Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have cultivated a strong understanding of global governance, environmental justice, and community-based advocacy. My experiences range from amplifying local sustainability initiatives through journalism to collaborating with cross-functional teams within startups and various climate-focused projects.

I am eager to contribute my skills to a forward-thinking organization focused on advancing systemic change around climate initiatives to create a more equitable and sustainable future.

During Michelle‘s time at Save Barnegat Bay, she has helped us create targeted on business cards for our signature programs. In addition, she has constructed a beautiful brochure that we can use to educate the public about our programs.

Melanie Thorn is currently working towards getting her bachelor's degree at Juniata College. She is studying environmental studies with a focus in politics and an emphasis in peace and conflict studies. She hopes to turn her passion into a career influencing environmental policy and creating a space for environmental restorative justice. Growing up in Ocean County she discovered her passion for protecting the environment. She sought out Save Barnegat Bay so she could help protect the beloved bay that she grew up on. She will be working as a Stormwater Intern for the Non-point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) project this summer.  

Megan Szot is a rising sophomore at Indiana University in Bloomington with a major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in permaculture design. Growing up on Barnegat Bay is what gave her the love and passion for her major. At Indiana, she has conducted research in the cognitive forces driving climate change denial and is part of a research team investigating the impacts tornadoes have had on McCormick's Creek State Park. Beyond her studies, she enjoys cooking, hiking and sailing. Megan is looking forward to learning more about Barnegat Bay through her time as an intern. 

Maggie is a rising senior at the Lawrenceville School. She grew up in Bay Head and spent many summers sailing on Barnegat Bay. Through the hours spent on Barnegat bay, she developed a deep appreciation and love for the bay. Maggie became interested in environmental science while taking a course on the subject at her high school. She will be working as a social media intern for Save Barnegat Bay this summer and looks forward to using social media as a means for educating others and spreading awareness.

Maggie Hodges graduated from the Lacey Township High School STEM Program in 2020 and is a rising sophomore at Stevens Institute of Technology, studying environmental engineering. Growing up on the Jersey Shore has made her extremely passionate about our bay, ocean, and environment, as a whole. This inspired her to study the condition of our Barnegat Bay and how it is impacted by the presence of oysters, during her senior year capstone project. Completely fascinated by this topic, Maggie is extremely eager to continue work related to the bay.

Lindsey Parker is a rising junior at the University of Maryland. She is majoring in both Economics and Environmental Science and Policy with a concentration in Environmental Politics and Policy. Her passion for the environment stems from spending lots of time in nature and visiting the Jersey Shore throughout her childhood. At Maryland, she is a member of a research team studying the presence and impacts of microplastics in the Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge about the Barnegat Bay during her internship. She is excited to contribute to the NEMO project and to learn more about environmental advocacy and education. 

Lauren is a senior at Stockton University studying environmental science. Lauren earned her Associate’s degree in Natural Science Studies from Ocean County College in 2022. She will graduate from Stockton in Spring of 2024. On her free time, Lauren works at a golf course, and she enjoys playing golf, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.

Lauren is 18 years old and just finished her first year at The University of Tampa to become a Marine Biologist. She has been interested in the environment for as long as she can remember. Lauren went to many science camps as a kid, and worked her way up to the Sedge Island experiences, and then became an intern through NewLogic science camps. Lauren is a part of the SIMCZ grant program this year and is excited to see where it goes. Lauren loves the beach, running, kayaking and swimming, and is in the process of training for the advanced SCUBA certification. Lauren has completed research through school assignments and for the internship that coincides with plants and wildlife in the Barnegat Bay area. She has also done research that focuses on water quality and sea-level-rise.

Lara Beck is an intern with Save Barnegat Bay for the Summer of She is currently a Senior at Stockton University majoring in Environmental Science. During this internship, Lara will be creating a map of Browns’s Woods where the SBB Ecocenter is located, along with a subwatershed map of the Barnegat Bay Watershed. When she is not map making with SBB, Lara helps with education outreach programs with Graceanne or helping with side projects around the Ecocenter. Lara has a passion for preserving the ecosystem she has been around her whole life, the Barnegat Bay and the Pine Barrens surrounding it.

Kevin Bonner has been lucky enough to have lived and spent time in the Barnegat Bay Watershed his entire life. He loves kayaking throughout the bay, especially at sunrise and in late summer, or early fall when there are plenty of birds and wildlife around.  Interning and volunteering at Save Barnegat Bay has been a priceless experience. Kevin enjoyed advocating on its behalf, engaging with a wonderful community who cares about this precious ecosystem, and spending extra time in Barnegat Bay. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Policy Institutions and Behavior in 2021. He hopes to continue working towards the betterment of our community’s health and nature. 

My name is Kenichi Hirose. I am currently a senior undergraduate at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ. I am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Biology. I grew up an hour away from the beaches of New Jersey and grew a passion for marine animals and their ecosystems. I expect to graduate in the fall of 2021 and am currently seeking a job opportunity in the marine science field.

Katie is a rising sophomore at Ocean County College gaining a degree in environmental studies. She has been immensely passionate about protecting the environment from the impact of people from a young age. Katie grew up in Ocean County and wants to help preserve our ecosystem, and educate the community on how they can help make a positive impact. She loves the outdoors and looks forward to working with like minded people to create a better future.

Kate is a rising senior at the Lawrenceville School. She grew up spending summers in Bay Head where she developed a deep love for the Bay and the ocean. Through an Environmental Science course at her high school, she learned the various threats that our local ecosystems face. Kate is excited to intern as a social media manager at Save Barnegat Bay to continue with her passions of protecting and learning about the local environments while educating various audiences through social media. 

Juliet is currently a senior attending Stockton University, completing a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability with a concentration in Policy.  Having grown up on a farm and spending her childhood on the Barnegat Bay, Juliet began school as an environmental science major with a strong passion for nature and animals. She chose to change to the Sustainability program as she saw the effects of climate change increasing and knew she had to help build a sustainable way of life for the community, the world around us, and future generations.  Part of creating a sustainable future is educating as many people as possible about the environment, ecosystems, climate change, and our role as humans in each aspect. Juliet is beyond excited to join the curriculum internship with Save Barnegat Bay as an organization with a mission close to her heart.

Julia is a recent graduate of Lehigh University where she studied Earth and Environmental Science and Engineering.  As a Student Grant recipient she will be working on the Rally for the Bay project, focussing on the water quality of the Toms River.  Through this project she hopes to identify the issues at hand and create achievable solutions to make a positive change for the area she was born and raised.

Julia is a rising junior at St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she is a Biology and Environmental Studies double major. She is a member of both the Varsity Sailing Team and Women’s Soccer Team at St. Mary’s. Julia has grown up sailing every summer at Lavallette Yacht Club and has been a coach at Metedeconk River Yacht Club for the past five years. She feels very connected to the Barnegat Bay and is passionate about the environmental issues associated with the region. Through her internship with Save Barnegat Bay, Julia is hoping to further her education in environmental studies, as well as gain valuable experience working with a non-profit.

John Critelli, a sophomore at Duke University, has been visiting Bay Head and Point Pleasant his whole life. While working three summers as a beach cleaner, he has seen the disregard that some people have for the environment, and he hopes to contribute to efforts to protect our beaches and waterways. John loves kayaking, canoeing, crabbing, and clamming, and he wants others to be able to enjoy these same activities throughout Barnegat Bay and Twilight Lake. John is happy that he can support the advocacy efforts of Save Barnegat Bay through his documentation of the importance of Twilight Lake to the Bay Head community.

Jay Patel will be entering his last semester for an associates degree in graphic design from the local Ocean County College (OCC). He intends to either join a 4 year, work freelance, or join a company after graduation from OCC. Although he has only been in New Jersey for the last 3 years, after experiencing the natural sites and environment near waters, he wishes to help spread awareness and rally more people to protect their home. He is also excited to expand his knowledge and skills more working together with the Save Barnegat Bay team.

Jackie is a rising senior at Rutgers University, majoring in Political Science. Born and raised on Barnegat Bay, she has always been passionate about protecting the place she calls home. Jackie is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of protecting our local habitat and wildlife, using social media and community outreach to inspire others to take action and make a lasting impact on the future of the Bay.

Jackie Greger is a 2022 graduate of Dickinson College with a double major in Environmental Studies and English. She grew up going to the beach in Seaside Park and enjoying Barnegat Bay, which led to a passion for protecting it from the impacts of climate change and pollution for future generations. Jackie worked as the Communications and Outreach intern in the summer of 2019 and a Sea Grant Intern in the summer of 2020. Now, Jackie works as the Communications Coordinator for the NJ Sierra Club, where she continues to work to protect New Jersey's environment. 

Jack Tonzola will be a senior next year at the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey.  He and his family have been spending summers on the Barnegat Bay from their home in Bay Head since he was a young child. Jack’s love of the Bay has developed over the years from his love of being on the water, observing wildlife and birding, fishing, sailing and boating.  This lifelong passion for the Bay, being on the water, studying ornithology and wildlife has led to an academic interest in Environmental Studies. Jack is currently looking to apply to colleges in the Fall of 2024 with the intention to study environmental studies as a major.  This opportunity to volunteer his time and energy to help Save Barnegat Bay to preserve and protect the waters, tributaries and shore habitat of Barnegat Bay is very exciting. Jack is grateful for the opportunity to intern this summer.

Jack is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in computer science and math at Cornell University. Growing up, he would spend the summers sailing on the Bay. Jack has always loved the Bay and taken interest in it and the many animals he has gotten to see. It always bothered Jack when he sailed by trash or a particularly polluted part of the bay, and now that he’s not sailing, he would like to help out saving the bay he grew up on. Outside of just the bay, Jack is very passionate about the environment and loves animals. He hopes that one day he can use his computer science skills to help environmental engineers create the technology needed to save this planet. Jack thinks Earth’s nature is an incredible and beautiful thing that must be preserved. This could be all there is in the Universe and that single possibility drives Jack to want to do all that he can.

Worked on digitizing and archiving our Pete McLain media collection. 

Hayley Kunkle is a junior at Boston College studying environmental science. She has a passion for marine life and conservation, and grew up visiting LBI and Point Pleasant in the summers. As an outreach intern, she is working on updating and developing new displays for fundraisers and festivals, as well as creating content for the SBB website.

Hadley is a rising sophomore at Penn State University studying mechanical engineering. Her love of nature developed at a young age while hiking with her family and spending time outdoors at summer camp. She grew up visiting Bay Head, NJ, where she fell in love with Barnegat Bay and the surrounding community. Hadley is creating green infrastructure and STEM education material for Save Barnegat Bay. She is very excited to be helping students learn how they can improve the environment through science and engineering. 

Gianna is a rising senior at Sacred Heart University where she is majoring in Biology and hopes to further her education studying conservation biology. She grew up spending her summers at the Jersey Shore and has always shown curiosity towards our environment. She hopes to raise awareness towards the threats that the shore faces as well as work with others to find preventive solutions that can be incorporated to preserve our environment.

Gianna is a sophomore at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Her passion for the natural world, scientific curiosity, and interest in working to prevent the climate crisis has led her to study Geology. In her free time Gianna enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and reading. She grew up visiting the beach and works in Seaside Park and Lavallette in the summer. By interning with Save Barnegat Bay Gianna is excited to gain scientific experience and to raise awareness on how our choices impact our environment and ecosystems.

Forrest Jennings is a senior at Stockton University pursuing degrees in Environmental and Marine Science. Growing up in the Boy Scouts and making Eagle Scout, he has always been interested in nature and when not at school likes to be outdoors hiking, biking, kayaking, and just exploring new places. He hopes to use his passion for the environment to show people its importance and inspire them to protect it. He has taught youth about science and nature as Ecology Director at the Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation, and is currently a tour guide at the Tuckerton Seaport where he teaches guests about local history, folkart, and wildlife. He believes deeply in conservation and is very excited to learn more and help educate others with Save Barnegat Bay.

Ethan Layton is a rising junior at Union College in Schenectady, New York, where he studies managerial economics and environmental science & policy. As a part time resident of Lavallette for the last decade, he is no stranger to the issues seen in our beloved bay. He hopes that his efforts as sea nettle intern will raise awareness, research, and solutions to the jellyfish overpopulation, as well as all the problems forced on Barnegat Bay. Some of his favorite things to do are read, surf, and play golf.

Eric is an Eagle Scout and holds a degree in Biology from Rowan University. He also enjoys fishing, camping and hiking all over the East Coast. He has two dogs, named Zapper and Chester.

Emily Zembricki is a senior at Stockton University pursuing a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science and Sustainability as well as a minor in behavioral neuroscience. After completing her undergraduate degree, Emily plans on continuing her education and earning a Ph.D. in Biopsychology. In graduate school, she anticipates studying the psychological impacts of captivity on orca whales so that she can advocate for the improved treatment of orcas that remain in marine parks. Emily carried out research at Rutgers University where she examined how increasing humpback whale presence has impacted shifting krill dominance in the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). After constructing and overlaying time series of humpback whale sightings, krill densities, and corresponding sea ice coverage data, she found that rising numbers of humpback whales in the WAP between 1993 and 1998 reinforced shifts in the dominant krill species from Euphausia superba to Thysanoessa spp., which could have serious implications on the structure of food webs in the greater Antarctic region in the near future. This experience allowed Emily to work with whales for the first time and break into the research field at a professional level, which she hopes to continue contributing to going into graduate school and in her career.

My name is Elizabeth Lackland and I am heading into my senior year at the University of Tampa! My major in sociology reflects my interest in engaging with my community, and learning about different world customs and traditions. My minor in Environmental Studies reflects my commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle. Since interning at Save Barnegat Bay, I’ve learned the power education has to make improvements in our surrounding communities.

Dean Cifelli is a returning intern at Save Barnegat Bay. Dean has a strong connection to the natural world, including Barnegat Bay, since childhood. For this reason, he is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in wildlife management at Stockton University. Prior to Stockton, he earned an associate’s degree also in environmental science. During his first internship at Save Barnegat Bay last year, Dean contributed to the “Stop the Sting” project, which aims to study growing bay nettle populations in Barnegat Bay. Now, Dean is part of the “Smart Yard, Healthy Bay” internship, in which he is building on his communication skills. With these experiences, Dean hopes they will be put to good use in his professional life.

Dave Roberts worked with the water quality field team and social media team to collect and create digestible content for the local community in an effort to inform and educate the public on the importance of environmental quality and health, especially in our local waters. Dave built several rain-collection barrels, studied stormwater management, collected water samples throughout the Toms River, and taught children about the importance of protecting our local watersheds during seine fishing classes that I led. Dave interned with Save Barnegat Bay in the summer of 2022. He has since graduated from the College of New Jersey with Cum Laude Honors a B.A. in Political Science. After graduating college, Dave stayed committed to environmentalism, as he earned certifications in Green Infrastructure and Coastal Stewardship from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Watershed Advocacy from the Watershed Institute. Furthermore, Dave is the youngest chair of a municipal environmental committee in the state of New Jersey. His current full-time job is as a Community Engagement Specialist for Solar Landscape, the leading community solar developer and provider in the country.

Corrine is a rising junior at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. She is currently on track to complete a bachelors of science degree in Environmental Studies. Corrine’s love for the outdoors began when she was young, specifically mesmerized by the ocean and all of its mystery. Fascinated by the thought of mystical creatures in the ocean, Corrine decided that she wanted to pursue environmental education through mermaid cosplay. Because she found that young lives are captivated by the same mystery she was, she wants to bridge imagination and science, relating facts to fun. Corrine visits the Barnegat Bay light house every summer, exploring and learning something new about the bay environment every time. Her internship with Save Barnegat Bay will give her important knowledge to further her passion in educating generations to come.

Christopher Blaine is a recent graduate of the Biology program at The College of New Jersey. He is also seeking higher education in the field of ecology. As an avid fisherman, hunter and hiker, he plans on using his education to preserve and improve the state of wildlife in New Jersey. Chris is excited to learn more and spread this knowledge of the Barnegat Bay to the community to help improve its overall wellbeing. Chris also works as an assistant football coach at Manchester Township

Worked with a few contracted commercial fisherman to help remove derelict crab pots and traps from around Barnegat Bay as they are a major threat to sealife.

Cameron is a recent Chemical and Biological Engineering graduate from Princeton University, who will be serving as an Advocacy Intern with SBB this summer. His interest in watershed conservation and restoration grew out of his previous experience addressing water quality and water security issues as a Project Manager with Engineers Without Borders. As an Advocacy Intern, he hopes to help conduct watershed conservation and restoration policy research and to communicate these findings with the public.

Brittany Mclaughlin is currently studying at Stockton University and is working towards her bachelors in Sustainability with a concentration in Policy. She is a passionate environmental advocate and has spent her whole life in the Barnegat Bay Watershed. She currently is the Co-chair of Sunrise Jersey Shore, a local Sunrise Movement hub. She aspires to work in the non-profit sector to advocate for a better world and is truly grateful to be able to grow and learn at Save Barnegat Bay for the Summer and Winter seasons.

Hi, I'm Brigette Wixted.  I am an undergraduate student at The College of New Jersey.  I aspire to be an environmental lawyer specializing in water pollution!  Over the summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be an intern at Save Barnegat Bay.  I got to meet and work with incredibly passionate and intellectual people who have enormously educated me about my desired field of study and helped me grow as a person.  I will always hold the memories from my time at SBB very dear to my heart and I hope I can give back to SBB in the future! 

Brianna is a rising junior at the University of Arizona. She is majoring in Geosciences with a concentration in Earth, Oceans, and Climate, and she is pursuing two minors, one in Soil and Water Science and another in History. At university, Brianna works in a paleoclimate lab, which  has deepened her passion for conservation and sustainability, and she now hopes to pursue a career in studying climate and improving science communication with the public. By working as an intern for Save Barnegat Bay this summer, Brianna hopes to strengthen her science communication skills and to help others create a deeper understanding for and appreciation of the bay environment.

My name is Brian Gisinger and I am an enthusiast about almost everything involving the outdoors. For three years I have been regularly going on hikes and familiarizing myself with our native ecosystems. I fully intend on spending my life working with the environment in one way or another.

Blair’s duties varied, as she was always willing to take on new responsibilities that went above and beyond her job description. She pioneered a creative and original approach to operating our social media accounts, which helped to expand our follower base and amplify our message across digital platforms. She was also integral to running our monthly rain barrel workshops, in which we taught local citizens how to build rain barrels for personal use to increase storm water storage throughout the watershed. Not only did she assist in coordinating these workshops, but she also created and maintained detailed records on every rain barrel distributed, which numbered over 200 by the summer’s end.

Avery Lentini is a rising senior at the University of Vermont, where she is majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Policy and a double minor in Art and Community & International Development. Having swam competitively for 14 years and having grown up spending summers on Long Beach Island, she has always felt a strong connection to water. Over the years she has become involved in social justice initiatives and is excited to expand her role in the environmental movement. By serving as an Advocacy intern this summer, Avery looks forward to contributing to the organization in its community-driven mission to protect our world’s precious water resources.

During her time as an intern in 2024, Anna Muller provided research support to the Ciba-Geigy team in addressing community concerns about a settlement agreement, and a major environmental justice issue. Her work emphasized enhancing transparency and fostering community engagement in environmental decision-making processes. As a student at Stockton University, Anna was deeply interested in bridging environmental policy and community empowerment, particularly in addressing the impacts of legacy pollution on marginalized populations. Since then, Anna graduated in May 2024 from Stockton with a B.S. in Sustainability focusing on policy. After graduating, Anna has gone on to volunteer with Climate Revolution Action Network, a Gen-Z organization, as their Energy Policy Lead and the campaign lead to establish an Office of Just Transition in New Jersey. She was recently accepted into Vermont Law and Graduate School's program to continue her energy regulation and law education.

Amy is currently working on her B.S. degree in Environmental Science at Kean University - Ocean. She aims to use her passion, perspective, and knowledge to become an environmental photojournalist. Amy began her venture with Save Barnegat Bay in the summer of 2022 where she worked on the Bay Nettle Water Quality Team for SBBs Student Grant Program. As a summer social media intern she wants to inspire others to love and care about our ecosystems specifically in the Barnegat Bay watershed through the lens of a camera.

Amanda is a senior at the University of Miami, majoring in Marine Affairs with minors in Marketing and Sustainable Business. As a lifelong resident of Brick Township, she spent her summers swimming, kayaking, and fishing in the Barnegat Bay and along the beaches of the Jersey Shore. These experiences instilled a deep appreciation for her local environment and sparked her passion for conservation. Amanda is dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific professionals and everyday citizens by making climate change and its solutions accessible and understandable to all. As a social media intern at Save Barnegat Bay, she loved sharing the organization’s mission and inspiring others to get involved in learning about and protecting our local environment through activities like the STEM Summer Series and rain barrel workshops.

Alissa is a rising junior at Elon University with a major in Environmental Studies and minors in Environmental Education and Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She has sailed for many years at Mantoloking Yacht Club and now coaches sailing in Lavallette. Through this experience, she has gained a great appreciation for the bay and its ecosystem. She is excited to be working on the Sea Nettle Team this summer and cannot wait to make a difference in our community.

Alexandria Mascia is a Rowan University Junior who is pursuing a B.A. in Environmental Sustainability Studies with minors in Planning, and Environmental Science. Growing up with Summer vacations to local Jersey Shores has led her to her passion in the field of sustainability. Her motivation to educate others on cleaning up the Barnegat Bay will lead our educational Stormwater studies in Summer 2023. She is eager to make a difference to our community with the skills she has gained from her studies and past experiences.

Alec Boss is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in communications studies with a psychology minor at Kean University. Whilst attending public relations classes as part of his degree program there, he and his peers created a comprehensive public relations plan for Save Barnegat Bay as both a final project and as a way to give back to the community. An Ocean County resident his entire life, Alec has a love of the bay and a passion for the environment as well as the wildlife that lives there, as such he has attended primitive skill, survival, and flora & fauna identification courses on his own, as well as environmental science during his time at junior college, with plans on attending future classes at the bachelor level. Upon graduation Alec plans on pursuing a career in either mediation or public relations for environmental non-profits, something he finds immense purpose and passion in. When he is not working or in class, Alec enjoys training mixed martial arts, hiking, and spending quality time with his family and friends.