Shanden Plyler

• Participated in marsh restoration and cleanup efforts in marginalized communities, removing debris and invasive species to restore native habitat
• Planted native vegetation to stabilize marsh ecosystems and promote biodiversity in degraded coastal areas
• Organized and participated in community outreach events to educate residents on the ecological importance of local marsh environments
• Engaged diverse community members in hands-on conservation efforts, fostering environmental awareness and stewardship in underserved areas
• Gained experience in coastal wetland restoration, native plant identification, and community-based conservation approaches

Developed strong time management and multitasking abilities while balancing work with a full course load as a full-time college student.

• Conducted seagrass bed mapping to assess and monitor critical marine habitat used by sea turtle populations
• Collected and inputted field data into NOAA databases, ensuring accurate and organized records for ongoing conservation research
• Performed sand dune profiling to track coastal geomorphology changes and their impact on sea turtle nesting habitat
• Participated in regular beach cleaning efforts to reduce anthropogenic threats to nesting sites and marine wildlife
• Gained hands-on international field experience working in a team-based conservation setting
• Developed skills in coastal habitat assessment, environmental data management, and marine species protection