This March, Jenna Testa joined the CBA team as the Monitoring Coordinator!

"I am beyond excited to contribute to the CBA mission in preserving our local waterways," she says, "Growing up along the Emerald Coast, I have always been fascinated by our marine environment and the life it supports."

Jenna earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at Florida State University. Interested in animal behavior and wildlife conservation, she worked and volunteered as a wildlife rehabilitator, zookeeper, and marine animal stranding coordinator. While gaining critical experience, she completed her master's degree in conservation biology through Miami University in 2018.

"My unique graduate program enabled me to travel to Belize, Australia, and Africa to learn with and amongst conservationists, scientists, and locals," she continues, "My master's portfolio focused on incorporating marine conservation into the community of northwest Florida. So, I am thrilled to be a part of CBA and help continue to teach others about what we can do to conserve our local resources as well as what conservation can do for our community."

As Monitoring Coordinator, Jenna is in charge of managing sampling at over 130 water quality sites throughout the bay, completing seagrass surveys, working on monofilament recycling, and helping new and ongoing research projects. Welcome Jenna!