Redefining 'Warm'

Hey! I'm Krista, the other new AmeriCorps member joining the Alaska SeaLife Center. I'm from California and am really excited to explore the northern extension of the West Coast! I was born in the Bay Area and my aunt loves to tell the story of when she took me to the Monterey Bay Aquarium at age 6 and I told her I wanted to become an ocean scientist. I really hope that story is true just for the "I told you so!" (in a nice way...) when I make it. Needless to say, working at the Alaska SeaLife Center is a step in the right direction!


In second grade, we moved to Connecticut. Apparently, I hadn't learned any geography yet because I was terrified that I was going to have to learn a new language. I think I got that idea because the only vacations we went on were to visit one set of grandparents in Sacramento where we spoke English, or the other side of the family in Germany where we spoke German. Luckily, I adjusted okay. The best thing Connecticut did for me was introduce me to rowing. One day in tenth grade, after the worst field hockey practice ever, my best friend called asking if I wanted to try out for a club crew team. I went for it, made the novice team, and fell in love with the sport. For the next three years, I was obsessed with getting out on the water and absolutely hated winter training, where we were stuck inside on the ergs. I'll be honest, the idea of Alaska in the winter was not in the 'pro' category of this job. But I love the snow, and I love a good adventure, and my definition of warm has shifted significantly since I got here. Although, I think I miss wearing flip flops the most.


During high school, I was also introduced the to world of SCUBA diving by my Biology teacher and it changed everything. Luckily for divers in Connecticut, the waters of Long Island Sound are so gross (but so great for science projects) that dive trips take you to the Caribbean. And luckily for me, my school had a pretty awesome definition of 'field trips'. I'm really excited about the possibility of joining the Dive Team at the ASLC and trying out dry suit diving!

In the kelp forest near Monterey

Last June, I graduated with a B.S. in Earth Systems: Oceans Track with a minor in Biology from Stanford University. Which basically means I focused on studying Oceanography and Marine Biology (not really sure why they didn't want to call it that). I was lucky enough to spend four years running around the backcountry of California, living in Monterey and diving in the kelp forests, sailing to Hawaii, and exploring Baja California Sur all in the name of science! I don't care how cliché it is; you can't tell me that's not the best major ever.

Out on the bow, sailing to Hawaii

Hiking Big Sur, CA

Swimming with a Ballena Tiburon (Whale Shark!) in BCS

Favorite place on earth: Rubicon Peak, Lake Tahoe, CA

View from my office this summer

Since graduating, I've worked as a Program Coordinator at a Marine Science summer camp, i.e. canoeing around and finding cool things. It was a really fun summer and led me to look towards other jobs in education. Next, I was a Program Assistant for a course in conservation photography back at Stanford. Contrary to popular belief, conservation photography is not when you use film sparingly. It's the idea of taking photos with the goal of sending a message. I think there is a lot to be said for bridging the scientific community and general public through art; who doesn't love pretty pictures?


I'm very excited to be joining the Education Team at the Alaska SeaLife Center! They offer awesome in-house programs, distance learning all over the world, and one incredible opportunity for me!

This is the kind of thing I find funny.