Sandra joined the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) team as a California Sea Grant Fellow after earning her Master of Biology from Cal Poly Humboldt in December 2024. Her graduate research focused on applied kelp forest restoration, specifically exploring ecological interactions between rock crabs and purple sea urchins. Before her fellowship, Sandra worked in education and outreach as a Marine Science Instructor and Aquarist at the Catalina Island Marine Science Institute, inspiring marine stewardship and conservation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz, where she worked as a research assistant studying intertidal ecology. During her Sea Grant fellowship, Sandra expanded her outreach and education experience, connected with the local community, and actively supported research and resource protection efforts within the Sanctuary. In her free time, Sandra enjoys being outdoors, including SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and tide pooling. She is excited about the opportunity to continue supporting the CINMS mission by joining the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation team. Sandra will be supporting the N-PAcT project as well as various initiatives at Channel Islands NMS.