Fellow spotlight: Jenna Kennedy

Jenna Kennedy is spending her Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship working for the Alaska Mariculture Alliance, a recently established nonprofit that supports all aspects of the state’s mariculture industry. Under the supervision of executive director Jason Lessard, Kennedy contributes to the development and coordination of a statewide mariculture liaison program, where she works with various Alaska Native organizations to promote mariculture outreach, literacy and economic development. She also assists with grant program coordination and contributes to state-level policy work.

Kennedy was drawn to the Alaska Mariculture Alliance because of its broad work within the mariculture industry. Having research experience in labs and in the field, Kennedy was keen to learn how agencies work together to administer programs that support coastal community development. Her work with the Alaska Mariculture Alliance gives her firsthand experience with policy work, grant administration, and the development of community education and outreach programs. Kennedy is looking forward to next year’s Alaska legislative sessions, when she will travel to Juneau to work with state representatives on mariculture policy.

“I’ve worked on the water for most of my life, as a sailor and educator,” Kennedy said. “This fellowship has given me a great opportunity to understand the perspective and processes of agencies that develop programs and policy that directly affect working waterfronts and coastal resource industries.”

Prior to moving to Alaska for her fellowship, Kennedy lived abroad for five years in Iceland and East Africa. During her time in Iceland, Kennedy attended Háskólasetur Vestfjarða (University Center of the Westfjords) and received her master’s of resource management degree in coastal and marine management. Kennedy lived on a sailboat in East Africa and worked with various environmental conservation nonprofits in southern Indian Ocean communities.

Kennedy is excited to be back in northern latitudes and spends her free time exploring the Alaskan wilderness with her dog, Paya.

More information about the Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program is available online.