Meet Sarah

I’ve loved the ocean for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Northern California, I spent countless hours exploring the coast, slurping Tomales Bay oysters, and crabbing with my dad to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table in Dillon Beach. Those early experiences sparked a curiosity about the ocean, and a desire to protect it, that has guided my life ever since.

I pursued that passion academically, eventually earning a PhD in marine microbiology at Oregon State University. My research explored microbial life under low-oxygen conditions in marine ecosystems. It was a vivid lesson in scale: tiny organisms, invisible to the naked eye, drive processes that shape the entire ocean and global carbon cycle. That insight still guides me today—small actions and connections, whether in science, policy, or community engagement, can ripple outward to create meaningful, large-scale solutions.

As a Catholic scientist, my work is personally rooted in faith. Inspired by Pope Francis' writing in Laudato Sí and the call to care for our common home, I see protecting the ocean not just as a scientific or civic responsibility, but as a moral one. Stewardship of the natural world and care for vulnerable communities are intertwined; every cleanup, every effort to reduce plastic pollution, every innovation in sustainable seafood reflects a commitment to honoring God’s creation.

Today, my role as the Seafood & Plastics Project Manager for the Surfrider Foundation bridges science, policy, and community action. I collaborate with oyster farmers, coastal advocates, businesses, and policymakers to reduce marine debris and plastic pollution, advance plastic-free infrastructure solutions, and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities. 

With family in food systems and as the spouse of a restaurateur, I understand the challenges small producers face—balancing cost, labor, and performance while trying to adopt sustainable practices. This perspective shapes my approach: solutions must work in the field. 

My work is guided by the belief that curiosity, care, and collaboration can transform small actions into meaningful change for our coasts and our world.