Growing up in a coastal community brimming with salt and fresh water wetlands, I felt destined to work to protect such fragile edge resources. In the midst of obtaining my BA in Marine Affairs, I was able to embark on a sea semester that forever intensified my desire to gather the tools necessary to affect changes in how government regulated natural resources, and how science was utilized in the formation of environmental public policy. This interest propelled me to law school, and then to a position (held until last year) as an attorney at RIDEM. While at DEM, I published articles on coastal policy (public trust doctrine) and water law in general. I drafted and reviewed numerous regulations and legislation affecting coastal, wetland and land use policies. I worked on policies and litigated cases relating to watershed protection, water quality (inland and coastal), wetlands and a myriad of other environmental land use issues. I am committed to supporting public education to direct public policy and to continued analysis and debate of the most appropriate way to regulate coastal resources.