Leslie Townsell
Community Director
Born in Philadelphia, and raised in Georgia, Leslie’s passion for marine science developed at a young age. Leslie completed her undergraduate degree from the illustrious Spelman College, the number 1 HBCU in the country. While at Spelman, Leslie pursued independent research in a freshwater system. After completing her MS in biology, Leslie went on to work outside of academia. A few years later, Leslie returned to academia and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Georgia. She is an oyster and shark scientist currently studying the impacts of climate change on both organisms along the coast of Georgia. Her love of marine science grew from her joy of being on the water and investigating what's under the waves.
Leslie's involvement with Black In Marine Science stems from her passion to inspire other Black women and girls to take up space in this predominantly white field. She hopes to shed light on the lack of diversity in the field and break down barriers making it easier for others following in her footsteps. In Leslie’s capacity as the Chief Operating Officer please reach out to her with general inquiries regarding day to day operations. As the Directory of Philanthropy and Donor Management please reach out to her for more information regarding donation opportunities and your donor profile. |