Lily Jorrick
MEBSA Co-Chair
Lily is a 3rd year Masters student in the Hovel Marine Conservation Ecology Lab. Her research focuses on the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on seagrass ecosystems. Lily is excited to promote community outreach through MEBSA and to share her love of marine science with the wider San Diego community. Outside of graduate school, Lily enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors.
Shoshana Smith
MEBSA Co-Chair
Shoshana is a 2nd year Masters student in the Hovel Marine Conservation Ecology Lab. Her research focuses on MPA effects and warming on Kelp Forest ecosystems, specifically California Spiny Lobster. Shoshana is excited to build community through MEBSA events and build graduate-undergraduate student connections. Outside of graduate school, Shoshana enjoys yoga, reading, and spending time outdoors.
Isaac Torres
MEBSA Treasurer
Hello everyone, my name is Isaac Torres, I am a fourth year biology student with an ecology emphasis at SDSU and I am from San Diego. I have been involved in research at SDSU since 2023, assisting the Hovel, Long, Edwards, and Lewison labs on various research projects. Project topics have ranged from predator-prey interactions in eelgrass beds, carbon movement in kelp forests, black abalone restoration, and computational modeling for suitable sickle fin devil ray habitat in the North Atlantic. I am also a certified kelp forest diver with Reef Check Baja which allows me to accompany researchers from UABC in Ensenada on their kelp forest monitoring trips! In my free time I love anything water related, surfing, swimming, free diving , and trying to get into spear fishing. I also really love to cook and play video games. I am the AAUS liaison for the scuba interest club, where students who want to get into scientific diving can talk to me for advice and get instructions on how to become a scientific diver at SDSU. My favorite sea creature is the leafy sea dragon, and I hope to get a tattoo of one soon! I will utilize my effective communication skills and organizational skills to optimally perform my duties as the treasurer of MEBSA.
Ruby Miller
MEBSA Secretary
I am a second year masters student in the biology department working as Dr. Kevin Hovels research assistant. I have mainly done research in the rocky intertidal up in Oregon and in the eelgrass beds here in San Diego. My main research interests involve ocean acidification and sea anemones. In my free time I like to draw and make jewelry. I bring my love for science and art to my position as secretary.
Bailey McKernan
MEBSA Secretary
I’m a second year master’s student in Luke Miller’s lab. I study the ecophysiology of mussels in dynamic estuary environments. I love spending time outside, crafting, and eating good food. My creativity and love for marine science helps me in my role as secretary.
Xavius Boone
Outreach Coordinator
Xavius is entering his 6th year in the joint PhD program at SDSU. His research is centered on marsh restoration and fish populations, and Xavius is passionate about including underrepresented voices in management decisions. His goals for MEBSA are to welcome in more undergraduate students and increase community outreach.
Troy Wynn
Outreach Coordinator
Troy Wynne is a third year PhD Candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology at San Diego State University and UC Davis. Her work explores the integrative social and ecological impacts of transnational pollution in the Tijuana River Watershed from a justice perspective. She focuses on transnational grassroots environmental justice movements, studying how communities mobilize across borders, what factors strengthen social networks and how that translates into adaptive capacity and ecological integrity of borderland ecosystems. She is deeply committed to providing spaces for engaging, hands-on learning experiences for the next generation of environmental scientists and social activists.
Jesse Humbert
CMIL Executive Board Representative
Jefferson (Jesse) Humbert grew up in Oregon at the base of Mt. Hood, after completing his undergraduate degrees throughout Spain, Argentina and Washington, Jesse began to develop a passion for marine biology. After completing his masters in Marine Biology in the San Juan Islands and teaching at Rosario Beach Marine Station, Jesse took a year off to work for National Geographic and travel. Upon discovering the Hovel Lab, Jesse returned to academia to further explore octopus behavior and marine environments. The basis of his research relies on deep sea motion detecting cameras which can record the activities of benthic invertebrates, specifically cephalopods. Ideally these records will help us understand the complex social interactions of wild cephalopods.
Makayla Bonney
CMIL Executive Board Member
Makayla is a 1st year Masters student in the Hovel Marine Conservation Ecology Lab. Her research focuses on the impacts of microplastic pollution on seagrass physiology. She is from Arizona and moved to San Diego five years ago to pursue a career in marine biology, where she now works for the state of California restoring wild white abalone populations. She enjoys scuba diving, reading, and spending time with her cats. In her position, she hopes to share her love of the ocean with others, especially early career undergraduates!
Anne Palmer
CSSC Representative
I’m a junior undergraduate working in the Long Lab. Participating in research with various type of nudibranchs and estuary species. Some of my hobbies are snorkeling, collecting shells and crafting. My favorite sea creature is a flamboyant cuttlefish. I use strong organizational skills and communication to advocate for MEBSA as well as all STEM students on our campus. These strengths help me represent our club and hopefully push me closer to my goal of being a marine scientist.
Beryl Nguyen
Undergraduate Leader and Social Media Manager
I moved to San Diego Fall 2024 from Vietnam as a Biology: Marine Biology major. For a year now, I’ve been involving in IDing invertebrates at SDSU’s Edward’s Lab and assisting research in the Bilingual Development in Context Lab. My favorite sea creature is the shortfin mako shark, and my main hobbies are rock climbing, visual and fiber arts, and board games. The main goal I want to achieve with MEBSA is to create an on-campus community with more connection to undergrads like touch tanks, marine themed crafts and more.
Audrey Vierra
Volunteer Coordinator and Tabling Planner
Hi, I’m Audrey! I am from Chico, California and am a junior at SDSU. I have lots of hobbies that include swimming, skiing, going to the beach, reading, and traveling. My favorite sea creatures are dolphins and seals. Recently, I have been researching baby octopus that have just hatched and will be studying how different babies survive off different types of food. I also volunteer at the CMIL and clean tanks and feed species! In my officer position, I plan to coordinate events and activities to help involve the undergraduates in the marine biology field and expand our MESBA club.
Neenah Mendez
Carpool Coordinator
Neenah is a junior undergraduate at SDSU majoring in marine biology. I am a research assistant in Dr. Luke Miller’s Marine Ecophysiology and Biomechanics lab. My hometown is Chicago, IL and I chose San Diego to be closer to the ocean! Outside of class and research, I love surfing, thrifting, and drinking iced lattes. My favorite sea creatures are sea lions, nudibranchs, and Pacific spiny lumpsuckers. As carpool coordinator, I want to improve the accessibility of off-campus events and opportunities, especially for undergraduate students at SDSU!
Marine Ecology & Biology Association 