REBECCA COPE
From diving the Great Barrier Reef to wading through waist deep mud in Charleston, I have developed an admiration for the beauty of coastal environments and the ecological services they provide. As a graduate student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, I am working to develop the skills needed to protect our coastal habitats. My primary interests include habitat restoration, conservation ecology and management, and marine geospatial analysis. I am excited to expand upon my interests and deepen my understanding of coastal management and policy, while contributing to the important work of the federation in North Carolina’s coastal communities.
SCOTT DELGADO
Due to my appreciation of the natural world growing up, I decided to dedicate my life to preserving and restoring nature. After receiving an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Baylor University, I was hired by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to monitor and validate ambient air quality. While the job was exciting and informed me about the responsibilities of environmental regulators, I desired to become more qualified to work with marine and coastal issues. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Coastal Environmental Management at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. I hope to utilize coastal and marine spatial planning and GIS as tools to improve restoration efforts along the coastline. I am excited to intern at the federation this summer and to discover the impacts that nonprofits have in the environmental field, as well as to learn more about coastal restoration, nonprofit management, and state-level environmental policy.
LAUREN FREDERICK
Growing up in Wendell, N.C., I have come to love and cherish a close and tight-knit community, which is why I feel at home at the N.C. Coastal Federation. I am currently a senior at North Carolina State University majoring in environmental sciences and minoring in applied ecology, with a focus in coastal environments. I am graduating in December of 2015, and am hoping to obtain a job in the environmental field after I graduate. In the past I have worked in the bill processing department of the Legislative branch of the General Assembly and have also interned with Strata Solar. The coast has always had my heart, and I love having the opportunity to work with a non-profit that is so passionate about protecting our beautiful beaches. I am looking forward to spending the summer working on projects that will benefit this great community.
ASHLEIGH MCCORD
I chose to pursue a career in coastal management during my time with AmeriCorps Cape Cod in Massachusetts. While on the Cape, I served with community groups and government agencies to address local environmental challenges including habitat loss, stormwater pollution, and coastal erosion. I recently returned to school to study the policy and science behind these and other issues, and am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Coastal Environmental Management at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. My interests include coastal and marine spatial planning, policy issues related to coastal parks and protected areas, and creative approaches to public outreach and community engagement. I’m excited to now call North Carolina home, and look forward to contributing to the critical work the federation is doing to protect and restore the North Carolina coast.
SAMANTHA THOMPSON
Growing up all over the United States, I developed an immense appreciation for the variety of ecosystems and life that inhabit our country. This upbringing led me to pursue to a bachelors of science in environmental science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where I also minored in Spanish and geospatial technology. During my time at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, I was immersed in the coastal issues affecting the county and state. I knew I wanted to contribute to the restoration, protection, education, and advocacy of the coastal environment, which the federation will allow me to do during my internship. I look forward to participating in projects that will positively impact the welfare of the coastal environment during my time with the federation.
