Dr. Camille Gaynus
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Board Chair
Originally from Philadelphia, Camille established a love of the water at an early age. She grew up as a competitive swimmer, but it was not until she entered Hampton University as a Marine and Environmental Science major that she realized she could turn her passion for water and the ocean into a career. Upon graduating from Hampton University, she started a PhD in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at UCLA. She spent the majority of her PhD research examining the factors that promote algal proliferation in coral reefs. She spent two years as a postdoc at the University of Penn in the Biology Department, where she used molecular techniques to assess how the taxonomic composition of algal communities changes when there are changes in herbivory and nutrients. Currently, she is a teaching assistant professor of Biology at Penn State Brandywine. There are two things Camille loves about being a marine scientist. First is the sheer amount of knowledge the ocean holds. It gives her countless opportunities to learn and explore. Second, she physically enjoys being underwater. There is something about being totally submerged in water that is calming for Camille.
She got involved with Black In Marine Science because she loves being Black and believes it is important that Black stories are highlighted as a way to combat anti-Blackness. She believes their exclusion from policies and research meant to better conserve and protect our oceans weakens the overall health of our oceans. As Board Chair, she strives to guide the organization in ways that fulfill its mission. |
