Jillian Acker Research Assistant Oceana Staff
Jillian is a recent graduate of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey where she received her master s in International Environmental Policy and Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.
After a one year hiatus spent traveling (and diving) throughout Southeast Asia following her undergraduate studies at the University of Miami, Jillian decided to pursue a more comprehensive education focused on the intersection of science, policy, economics and management. Jillian is passionate about marine protected areas, and throughout her studies completed several internships focused on MPAs, including a project on MPA effectiveness with NOAA National MPA Center in Monterey. Additionally, Jillian completed a summer fellowship in Indonesia where she worked on an economic valuation of enforcement enhancement and building capacity of local MPAs.