Littoral Society Highlights Staff On International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on February 11. It is intended to recognize the role women and girls already play in science and promote the idea of STEM careers to future generations of women.

On this day, we would like to highlight the female scientists on the Littoral Society staff, which include: 

• Alexandra Kanonik, Jamaica Bay Program Director; 
• Julie Schumacher, Habitat Restoration Coordinator;
• Lucia Osborne, Delaware Bay Program Director;
• Michelle Rebilas, Delaware Bay Outreach and Education Coordinator;
• Nicole Haines, Education Director;
• Quinn Whitesall, Habitat Restoration Technician; and
• Toni Rose Tablante, Habitat Restoration Technician.

Read on for brief profiles of the American Littoral Society's Women in Science.

Alexandra Kanonik is the Littoral Society's Jamaica Bay Program Director. She has a biology degree from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and has co-authored a number of peer-reviewed academic papers and articles on all things Diamondback Terrapin.

Julie Schumacher is a Habitat Restoration Coordinator for the Littoral Society and has a degree in Environmental Science from Stockton University. When not counting fish in Wreck Pond or helping to build oyster reefs or speaking to groups about the importance of our coastal ecosystems, she can often be found performing with her band at area events.

Lucia Osborne is the Littoral Society's Delaware Bay Program Director and also has a degree in Environmental Science from Stockton University, where she won the Provost Scholar and NJ Bloustein Distinguished Scholar awards. Much of her work is centered around the Cohansey River and advocating for equitable access to a clean Delaware River Watershed.

Michelle Rebilas is Delaware Bay Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Littoral Society. She has a BS in Marine Science from Stockton University and a Master's Degree in Environmental Education from Florida Institute of Technology. She connects students, teachers, and community members to the Littoral Society’s work in the Delaware Bayshore region through education programs, community outreach, and social media.

Nicole Haines joined the Littoral Society as the Education Director in March of 2018 after earning a degree in Environmental Studies from Ramapo College. After working for Partner Engineering and Science as an Environmental Scientist, she came to the Littoral Society in order to get back to her love of environmental education.  

Quinn Whitesall is a Habitat Restoration Technician for the Littoral Society. She earned a Marine Science degree from Stockton University in 2012 and is a graduate student in Stockton’s Coastal Zone Management Professional Science Master’s Program. She co-leads the Society's horseshoe crab tagging program, constructs and monitors intertidal reefs, and provides grant reporting and permitting support to the habitat restoration project team.

Toni Rose Tablante is also a Littoral Society Habitat Restoration Technician. She has a Marine Science degree, with a a minor in Fishery Science, from Rutgers University. Prior to joining the Society she worked at a marine science camp and as a Fisheries Technician for NJ Fish & Wildlife, where she assisted with various surveys and data reporting for the commercial fishing sector. She now spends her time supporting restoration projects and engaging/inspiring the public to be environmental stewards, especially through the Littoral Society's horseshoe crab tagging program.