WFCRC TEAM

Executive Director

head reef hugger

"I have always been an Earth scientist; I just did not realize it. In my youth I was intrigued by our oceans and questioned the logic behind our using the ocean as a dumping ground. I think that day is in sight and we need to reverse our thinking to become a solution rather than the problem." — Vic Ferguson

Assistant Director

Leslie has a BS in Business Administration from the  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and MA in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas, Austin. 

"Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, my parents instilled in me the love of land and water and the preservation of their beauty. As a geologist I have further developed my interest in preserving our earthly assets. I am honored to be associated with this worthy cause for the conservation of coral reefs."

Director of Operations

Ginger has a B.A.S. in Scientific Studies from Wayland Baptist University, Lubbock, TX and an M.S. in Marine Science from Unity College, Unity, ME. Since her youth, she has always had a fascination with

the ocean, especially sharks. However, she grew up in an area where no ocean was in sight and never met a marine scientist or stepped foot on a beach until she was an adult. In graduate school, she was

finally able to cultivate that passion by studying conservation of marine predators. Now, Ginger wants to advocate for women like her who are interested in marine science and need guidance to pursue their

passion in the field. “From coral reefs to apex predators, every organism in the ocean plays a crucial role in our marine ecosystem. No matter how close or how far you are from the ocean, we are connected to it one way or another. We must do our best to preserve and protect it and the life it gives us.”

Partner & Board Member

Shelby Thomas, M.S. is the Chief Executive Officer & Director of Research at the Ocean Rescue Alliance.

Specializing in marine conservation and restoration, she completed her masters in Marine Ecology and is currently completing her PhD in Marine Biology with the University of Florida. She is an environmentalist and marine conservation advocate who hopes to inspire others to protect our environments and has worked with various restoration projects including coral, sea grass, oyster, sea-urchin, and scallop restoration.

Project Manager

Summer is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and marine conservation expert and enthusiast. She strives to educate others through the power of GIS as she believes it's the key for many, if not all, conservation solutions. Summer has her Masters in GIS Management and wrote her thesis on the 'Design and Development of a Shark Tagging Database' in an effort to develop more efficient methods in sustainable fishing and shark research. She has worked with National Geographic's partner, Allen Coral Atlas, to provide GIS technical support and educational material to international conservationists who utilize the Atlas' data. 

Advisory Board Member

As Founder and CEO of Marine Conservation Network, Kimberly started her passion for ocean and marine conservation as a teenager wanting to become a dolphin trainer. Her dad was a fisherman and took her boating nearly every weekend, and that is what motivated her to get involved with marine life and education. She received her marine biology degree and quickly realized that the oceans were under threat from plastic trash, overfishing, and lack of compassion for marine life. She initially began a company called “Sustainable Seafood Experience,” but

realized more coverage and education was needed concerning the many issues involving ocean conservation. She then incorporated MCN, Marine Conservation Network, as a 501(c)(3) and began a global effort to link all conservation organizations around the world.

Reena holds an MSc in Marine Science from Northeastern University and a BS in Biological Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Throughout her research career, she has primarily focused on investigating the impacts of ocean acidification on various marine species. Her overarching objective is to leverage her expertise in ocean acidification to advance her passion for coral reef conservation, with a particular emphasis on exploring innovative regenerative strategies for coral ecosystems.