Author: Shannon Switzer

Shannon is a published travel writer and award-winning conservation photographer. She’s worked with National Geographic Traveler Magazine as their “Curious Traveler” and is also one of National Geographic’s Young Explorers, raising awareness about the pollutants that are degrading our country's coastlines and oceans. With a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara, Shannon has conducted field research and photographed endangered species and remote cultures worldwide. After living in Australia, Uganda, the Seychelles Islands, and on a boat sailing and surfing 3,000 miles down the coast of Mexico and Central America, Shannon believes in travel that directly invests in the integrity of the communities she visits. As a lifelong West-Coaster hailing from San Diego, she’s excited to now explore all the “Right Coast” has to offer. Her dream is to someday live where she can ride her horse to the beach with board-in-tow and surf. After graduating from Duke, she also hopes to help small island nations fight the good fight against sea level rise.

Shannon Switzer
July 22, 2014 Shannon SwitzerCEM, coasts, environmental policy, internships, oceans, student life, students, Video Posts

Stanback & the Crocodile Island

I’ve had Cuba on the brain for the past 11 weeks. Cuban cigars, Cuban Rum and Cuban baseball. Well, not quite. No, as a Stanback Intern with the Environmental Defense Fund in Raleigh, I’ve beenContinue reading

The Lighthouse Ponies

“Misty of Chincoteague?” I squealed. “No, that’s Virginia, this is North Carolina,” my classmate responded. “Yeah, but the ponies!” I insisted. We hadn’t come out on this boat to see the ponies per se (andContinue reading

Shannon Switzer
March 10, 2014July 22, 2014 Shannon SwitzerCEM, student life, students

PHOTO BLOG: My First Snow Day(s)

As a San Diegan, the closest thing I’d ever had to a snow day was getting off school because wildfires were encroaching on our neighborhood. Now that I’ve had not one but FIVE snow days,Continue reading

Ten Tips For Landing an Ocean Job

D.C. is a great place to be, especially when Duke takes it over for the weekend. That’s exactly what happened two weeks ago when a significant chunk of the Nicholas School headed up toContinue reading

Why Surfing Matters

I had big plans for winter break. I was going to apply for a Fulbright Fellowship, hammer out the details of my Masters Project, submit applications for summer internships, submit more images to National GeographicContinue reading

The Definition of Insanity: COP19

“We have entered a new era that demands global solidarity in order to fight climate change,” Philippines delegate Naderev Saño declared during the opening statements at the 19th Conference of the Parties for the United NationsContinue reading

How to Tag a Shark (and keep all your fingers)

Grad school has been a freight train. Fall break flew by, and we’re registering for spring courses. Which is why I have yet to write about the ScienceOnline conference I attended at the University of MiamiContinue reading

Fall into Community

Fall is here with its smell of pumpkin-spiced lattes and the sound of crunchy leaves rustling. And though I was in denial for weeks, I’ve finally given up on wearing summer dresses to school, andContinue reading

Sky Juice in the Cayes

“Welcome, sista. Please have a seat.” Our host was sporting dreadlocks and a Bob Marley tank top. He pulled out a chair and fanned his arm with a flourish. My godparents, who had brought meContinue reading