Ocean Office Interns
Swarna Chowdhury
Swarna has a bachelor’s degree in Water Resources Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. After graduation, she started her professional career with the Institute of Water Modelling in Bangladesh for three and a half years where she led multiple government-funded projects on river modeling and management. She started her doctoral study at NC State University in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department in 2021. Swarna’s Ph.D. research focuses on coastal modeling aiming to understand the impact of environmental and anthropogenic factors such as extreme weather events, aquaculture, and coastal infrastructure—on coastal shorelines, aquatic habitats, and sediment dynamics. Swarna is from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and loves traveling, hiking, gardening, and reading books in her free time.
Joel Beaudry
Joel is a current Master of Environmental Management student at Duke University with concentrations in Environmental Economics & Policy and Coastal & Marine Systems and is excited to serve as one of the Coastal Restoration & Outreach Fellows for this summer. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science. Originally from Orlando, FL, Joel grew up exploring many of Florida’s state parks. In his spare time, he enjoys completing escape rooms, cheering on Florida and Duke athletics, and camping.
Wrightsville Beach Office Interns
Elise Coby
Elise Coby is currently a graduate student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she is studying Coastal and Ocean Policy. She is a strong advocate for coastal restoration and resiliency and is seeking a career in coastal management. Outside of her studies, she is a passionate equestrian, specializing in show jumping, and enjoys running and swimming in the ocean. Elise also loves to travel; her favorite trip was a study abroad experience in Ecuador, where she studied biology in the Amazon rainforest, along the coast of Ayampe, and in the Galápagos Islands.
Isabel Chang
Isabel Chang is from Wilmington and is a rising junior at NC State University. She is majoring in Plant Biology and Conservation Biology with a minor in Chinese Studies. Isabel hopes to pursue a career in conservation work, specifically focusing on sustainable agriculture. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and cooking.
Mia Goldberg
Mia Goldberg is a rising sophomore attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She is majoring in Business Management and double minoring in Honors and Environmental Studies. Mia is involved in several clubs, including Club Caving, Bird Club, Latin Dance, and Student Ambassadors. She aspires to work in environmental conservation as a manager in an environmental organization. She enjoys swimming, being outdoors, and cooking in her spare time.