Aeon understood from a young age that living far inland doesn't make you independent from the world's waters. Knowing this, took every chance he got to further explore his curiosity about the interconnectedness of life on Earth. He sought not only to learn just how much the ocean impacts people who don't live near it, but how those people impact the ocean in return.
This curiosity has taken him on multiple whale-watching tours, to beach clean-ups, and to marine conservation meetings to learn and share his passion about marine life. Aeon felt compelled to share his discoveries with family, friends, and peers. He's since been giving presentations at various schools about whales, dolphins, sharks, endangered marine species, and sustainable seafood. These presentations have become a critical component of Aeon for Ocean's mission.
Growing up on the coast, she realized that she – like many of us – was unwittingly part of the problem, so she strongly believes it's time to give back and strives to be a part of the solution by raising awareness to protect the oceans. The knowledge she has gained over the last several years has left her amazed at how wonderful the ocean and its creatures are, as well as the importance of healthy marine ecosystems and the critical role humans play towards its conservatio.
She is a computer engineer and has been in various roles in IT industry. She has been volunteering at Save the Water™ managing technology team and in local schools through various educational programs.
Benalee is Midwest native, born and raised in the greater St. Louis region where she earned a Master of Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications, from Lindenwood University.
Her professional experience includes establishing, implementing, and managing all aspects of operations for a rapidly growing Civil Engineering firm.
Her love of the ocean began with her first visit to Pensacola Beach 25 years ago. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature and travelin, while continuing to learn how to enhance this world for future generations.
She is excited to be a member of the Aeon for Ocean team and believes this is an ideal role allowing her to apply both her strong business operations experience as well as her love of the earth in support of this mission.
With a Master's in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, she brings a unique mix of strategic HR insight and analytical thinking. She's currently pursuing an MS in Business Analytics and aims to build innovative HR technology that's not only data-driven but also powered by compelling data visualization and storytelling, so that organizations can see, understand, and act on their people-data with clarity and impact. She believes the future of HR lies in blending empathy with analytics and is excited to be part of shaping that future.
Outside of work, she's an avid reader, particularly drawn to books on spirituality and psychology or a blend of both. She loves traveling and spending quality time with her husband and daughter. Whether it's discovering a new place or simply sharing a quiet moment with family, she values experiences that bring balance and inspiration to both her personal and professional life.
Jonica's passion for ocean conservation began in her Florida childhood, and her college years near the Gulf of Mexico allowed her to engage with environmental organizations like Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Tampa Bay Watch. Transitioning to teaching sixth-grade science, Jonica made a lasting impact on the next generation. Today, as a Marine Mammal Observer and Educator on Jolly Sailing & Dolphin Tours in Pensacola Beach, Florida, she educates visitors from diverse regions about Gulf of Mexico's marine life. Committed to ocean conservation, Jonica actively contributes to Aeon For Ocean, supporting their mission to raise awareness about ocean conservation among children across the United States. For fun, she enjoys climbing, hiking with her faithful pup, and exploring the depths of the ocean through scuba diving; she finds joy and balance in the great outdoors.
Tansey is a Pacific Northwest native, born and raised in the Seattle area. She earned a Bachelor's degree at University of Portland in Biology with a minor in Psychology, followed by a Master's Degree in Athletic Leadership from Boise State University. Now living just outside of Boulder, Colorado, she works remotely as a project manager. In her free time, she runs competitively and loves to travel with her husband- especially to the beach! As a former high school science teacher, Tansey has a deep love and passion for science, nature, and our oceans. She's excited to be working with Aeon for Ocean to empower the next generation of conservationists.
Bethany is a recent graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a double-majored in Marine Biology and Environmental Science and minor in Conservation Biology. She is from the Bay Area, but is currently in Southern California working for a water utility company as a conservation intern. From learning how to swim at a young age, visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to snorkeling in Hawaii, Bethany developed a deep love for marine biology/science. She cultivated this passion while volunteering with The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito during high school, studying marine science in college classes, becoming scuba certified, and conducting marine research abroad in French Polynesia. Through volunteering with Aeon for Ocean she hopes to further her passion, contribute to ocean conservation/protection, and give young kids the opportunity to discover the amazing underwater world.
Despite living far from the ocean, Ashley has always had a passion for ocean conservation and marine life. She is excited to help Aeon for Ocean continue their mission of teaching children about the ocean and the many marine animals who call it home. In her free time, Ashley enjoys listening to music, writing, traveling and spending time with family!
Samantha is a 2D/3D concept artist and illustrator from Monterey, CA. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Entertainment Design from Laguna College of Art & Design. After graduating, she is continuing to work with her personal projects and gaining more experience. Currently she is a 3D Art Lead at Digital Scorpion Interactive, Graphic Designer at LatinX in Animation, and Concept Artist at Tlacuache Studios. Being capable of making 2D and 3D art gives her the ability to work on different projects. Her focus is in games and animation but that doesn't stop her from other projects.
Now she is residing in Montreal,QC but she will always love her coastal hometown. Her joining this team gives her the chance to put her skills and admiration for the ocean into something good like Aeon for Ocean.
Difei is from China, now she is living in Los Angeles. She is a 2d vis-dev artist. She holds degrees in Animation from both School A and School B. However, compared to animation, she excels more in illustration and scene design. Currently, she is working part-time while seeking self-improvement opportunities. Apart from her academic pursuits, she is also a passionate marine documentary enthusiast with a deep fascination for orcas and deep-sea creatures. She is concerned about the survival of these marine creatures, which is one of the reasons she came to AFO. She's ready to say HELLO to everyone!
V'Rhaniku is a seasoned talent acquisition and career services professional with over 11 years of experience across corporate and higher education settings. She has experience in full-cycle recruitment, employee engagement, and developing inclusive talent strategies that drive diverse hiring outcomes. V'Rhaniku holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting and an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources. Her passion lies in mentoring and supporting students and young professionals as they navigate their career journeys. Deeply committed to volunteerism, education, and youth empowerment, she is excited to support AFO's mission and contribute her expertise to meaningful, community-centered change. Outside of work, V'Rhaniku enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, traveling, and giving back through service.
Bekah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Texas and has been a Human Resources Professional for over seven years. She is based in central Texas. She enjoys gardening, hiking with her family, traveling, and walking around the neighborhood with her two dogs. Ever since she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, she has had a passion for ocean conservation. She is very excited to join Aeon for Ocean and help them further their mission of increasing awareness about ocean conservation and marine life.
Anisha holds a bachelor's degree in International Studies with a concentration in Global Sustainability and Development from NC State University. Her professional experience includes grant and policy writing focused on international development and environmental issues. She has written proposals such as addressing reform in cobalt mining conditions and agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo and creating a policy proposal on improving desalination plants in Egypt for an NGO in Japan. With a passion for sustainable solutions and cross-cultural collaboration, Anisha currently volunteers with Aeon for Ocean to support ocean conservation practices and youth-focused environmental advocacy. Anisha believes fostering awareness from an early age is key to building a more sustainable world.
Abby is a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in Sequential Art. After graduation she wants to work on children's graphic novels. As someone who grew up in Tampa Florida, then moved to Abu Dhabi at a young age, Abby has always lived near the ocean and wants to do her part to protect it. Besides drawing Abby enjoys cooking, playing video games, and reading comics. Her favorite sea creatures are rays, jellyfish, and sea snakes.
Savanna is a recent graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, where she earned her B.S. in Marketing with a minor in Sports Management. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawai'i, Manhattan Beach, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada where she currently lives. She also spends much of her time in Puna'auia, Tahiti, French Polynesia, where she enjoys scuba diving and exploring the underwater world. A certified Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver, Savanna brings a lifelong connection to the ocean to her professional expertise in social media strategy, content creation, and community engagement. At Aeon for Ocean, she is excited to combine her creativity with her passion for marine conservation, helping to amplify the organization's mission and inspire youth and communities to protect the ocean.
I am a Business Intelligence analyst with experience in SQL, Python, and Power BI/Tableau, focused on translating raw data into clear, decision-ready insights. My background spans data modeling, and dashboarding for academic and nonprofit teams, with an emphasis on data quality, repeatable pipelines, and stakeholder-friendly reporting. I'm excited to bring these skills to Aeon for Ocean to help quantify impact, streamline reporting, and support ocean education and conservation initiatives. I'm particularly motivated by mission-driven work where data storytelling can inform action and broaden community engagement. I'm thrilled to contribute to AFO's vision and learn from the team.
A graduate of Barnard College (B.A. Biology), Teachers College of Columbia University (M.A. Secondary Science Teaching), and University of St. Thomas (Ed.D. Educational Leadership & Learning), Dr. Marci Levy-Maguire is an experienced teacher, school leader, professional developer, data and assessment specialist, communications and strategic partnerships specialist, education consultant, and higher education instructor. She continues to be influenced by her early experiences exploring marine biology in the Florida Keys as a high school Dolphin School student, studying marine mammal biology and conservation in Baja, Mexico, interning to study humpback whales in the North Atlantic Ocean and lead marine education programs in the Florida Keys, and leading marine education programs and camps in North Carolina. Marci is excited to revisit her marine biology past and build on her education experience to collaborate with the amazing AFO team to support the next generation of leaders.
Josh is the Chief of Public Affairs for the 934th Airlift Wing in Minneapolis, where he leads strategic communication initiatives and community engagement efforts. He holds a Master's degree in Environmental Management and Policy, with a focus on sustainability and leadership. Josh's passion lies in connecting people and purpose, where he found Aeon for Ocean, and now he hopes to inspire youth to protect our planet's oceans and the life they sustain.
I am passionate about data, through self study and volunteering, I have become proficient in different data analysis tools. The reason why I am interested in volunteering for AFO is because I want to contribute to the organization's mission in spreading the importance of preserving the ocean and marine life. Volunteering at AFO will also allow me to grow as a data professional.
Tammy has spent the majority of her career working in higher education settings specializing in human resources and financial/budgeting roles. She completed her bachelor's degree in business administration and has continued to further her education taking multiple master's level courses in Human Resources. Tammy and her husband, Brad, have 7 adult children and enjoy traveling to be with family or to spend time at their home on Florida's gulf coast. Tammy enjoys watching dolphins, manatees, sharks, stingrays, along with other marine life swimming near their home and also catching and disposing of plastics and other garbage that float by in their canal. Because of Tammy's passion for marine life and the ocean, she was very interested in donating time to the AFO causes.
Kathy enjoys leading teams, supporting others' growth, and creating positive experiences. She has developed strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills through her professional experience in team management and customer relations. Currently interning in the Human Resources department at Aeon For Ocean, Kathy is gaining hands-on experience in recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement. Passionate about ocean conservation and community involvement, she is excited to volunteer with AFO to help inspire others to protect marine life and care for our planet. In her free time, Kathy enjoys spending time with her pets, exploring new interests, and engaging in activities that promote learning and connection.
I am a recent graduate from Fresno State University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Originally from Fresno, California, I recently relocated to Minnesota. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and going to the gym. I've always been fascinated by ocean life and feel strongly about raising awareness for its preservation. At Aeon for Ocean, I hope to use my experience in web design to create engaging, educational, and visually inspiring digital experiences that help promote ocean conservation and inspire others to take action.
I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, where I also competed on the women's tennis team. I'm passionate about using my work ethic, relationship-building skills, and commitment to service to support fundraising efforts that protect our oceans, conserve marine life, and reduce plastic pollution. I currently volunteer with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, and Twin Cities Pet Rescue, experiences that have strengthened my dedication to environmental and wildlife conservation. I'm driven to help create meaningful change, raise awareness about the urgency of protecting our environment, and expand my knowledge in sustainability so I can more effectively contribute to an organization's mission and make a lasting impact.
I've spent the last ten years building my career in technology, beginning with helpdesk and eventually moving into management. I'm also working toward my Information Technology Management degree to continue growing my skills. I live in Minnesota and spend a lot of my free time hiking as many national parks as I can, beating my yearly reading goals, and coaching LEGO League and FIRST Robotics. Being a part of LEGO and FIRST is what sparked my passion for working with kids to learn and get involved with STEM. Volunteering with AFO feels like a natural extension of that work, and I'm looking forward to contributing to the team!
Sarah has a bachelor's degree in psychology with minors in biology and criminology from the University of Denver. She is originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and currently resides there. She is pursuing a master's degree in biology and wildlife conservation, which she hopes to use to help wildlife conservation in the future. She has always loved the ocean, specifically all of the amazing creatures that live there.
Her professional experience includes an internship in Iceland where she collected data and wrote an article on wildlife there and a cancer clinic with a support group for children whose parents were sick. She is excited to learn more about grant writing and contribute to the Aeon for Ocean team.