Welcome - COA 2015 Interns!

We are thrilled to have Gianna Fischer and Derek Noah join COA for their 3^rd year as Interns!  In 2013 as seniors at Middletown High School South, this dynamic duo volunteered for COA for their Senior Project and in 2014 they helped organize numerous campaigns and events.

This summer, as a Junior at Boston University Honors Program (BU) in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science and Philosophy, Gianna Fischer has returned in the capacity of our Policy Intern. She assists Zach Lees, Coastal Policy Attorney, and Executive Director Cindy Zipf with issue research and implementation of policies. In her spare time, Gianna is editor-in-chief of the BU Buzz Magazine, and the Communications Strategist for BU’s Public Markets Investing Group.

Multi-talented Derek Noah, who is a Junior at Rutgers University with a major in Environmental Natural Resource Economics and a minor in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behaviors, is proficiently helping COA with the Corporate Beach Sweeps, COAST, and field work with the K9/Blue Star program, among other responsibilities.  Derek is involved with the Cook Business Club and is an elected member of the Rutgers Environmental and Biological Sciences Governing Council.

As the 2015 Development Intern, Alicia Maziarz, works closely with Tory Woods, Events Coordinator, and assists with all aspects of fundraising, resource development, and event planning. Alicia attends the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a major in Legal Studies and Public Health. She is a recipient of the competitive UMASS Women in Leadership Fellowship and works as an office assistant at the University. The Shore Paddle and Sandy Paws pet walk are sure to be successful with Alicia’s capable and friendly support.

Our Marine Debris Intern for the summer of 2015 is Charlotte Maiden.  She will assist Catie Tobin, Marine Science Education Coordinator, with the Corporate Beach Sweeps.  A former volunteer of COA and a MAST student, Charlotte attended the Honors College of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Wilmington for two years with a major in Environmental Science and will begin her junior year at UNC Chapel Hill in September.  Charlotte is an active member of the UNC Coastal Society and ECO Club, and was a summer Research Assistant at Monmouth University.

Katie Veasey is COA’s first Marine Science Intern. She is a Junior at Hamilton College pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Chemistry. Katie is the President of the Hamilton Environmental Action Group, a Site Coordinator for the Hamilton Association of Volunteering, and holds the #1 position on the Varsity Women’s Golf Team! At COA, she is assisting Catie Tobin, in the analysis phase of the microplastics project and will help advance it to the next stage. Investigations are in the lab, as well as in the field.

COA’s 2015 COAST Intern is Melissa Mertz.  She will coordinate all aspects of the annual COAST campaign (Clean Ocean Action Shore Tips), which educates and empowers citizens at beaches and festivals to protect the ocean.  Melissa is a Junior pursuing her BS at Rutgers University with a major in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behaviors.  She was the President of Clothier Hall Residential Association last year, participated in the GREEN Program Study Abroad in Iceland, and is an environmental writer for EPIB Trail.  Melissa is professional, energetic and thorough – check out COA’s website for a COAST table near you!