Natalie is a first-year MEM student in the Nicholas School studying coastal environmental management. Growing up in Tampa, Florida, instilled in her a passion for the ocean that led her to Duke. Prior to graduate school, she worked with sea turtles at aquariums and interned with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She is now pursuing a Community-Based Environmental Management (CBEM) certificate and plans to focus on social aspects of marine conservation for her master’s project. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, watching movies and fishing. Natalie holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy with minors in Biology and Communications from Florida State University. In Durham, Beaufort & Beyond, Natalie explores the aspects of graduate student life that are not purely academic. From weekend beach trips to Beaufort to exploring downtown Durham, time spent at the Nicholas School may not feel like school at all.