Stephanie Letourneau

Community Science & Outreach Staff

I have always loved spending time in and around water—from lakes and coastlines to mountain streams and rivers—and I carried that passion with me through a semester abroad in the Galápagos Islands and a summer exploring the marshes of the York River. Recognizing that scientific progress depends on effective communication, I dove into the waters of the Florida Keys to learn firsthand how community engagement is integral to the scientific process. My career is focused on connecting coastal communities with science and conservation efforts in their own neighborhoods and ecosystems, amplifying the value of local knowledge. I believe that the impacts of community involvement ripple far beyond data collection, fostering stewardship and catalyzing local change.

In 2020, I earned my B.S. in Environmental Science from Juniata College, and in May 2025, I completed my M.A. at William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Science and VIMS. My work has centered on education, science communication, and participatory science, including coordinating volunteer water quality monitoring with Dickinson College’s Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring, supporting communications at the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, and advancing participatory science at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. My master’s research evaluated the Chesapeake Bay SAV Watchers volunteer program through the lens of community perspectives. I look forward to bringing this experience to my work at Wetlands Watch.