Expertise
- K-12 STEM and environmental education
- Marine-focused community outreach
- Marine tourism
Each year, more than 100 high school students from across Washington state arrive in Seattle to test their ocean science knowledge at the regional Orca Bowl: Maile Sullivan makes it happen. As she manages Washington Sea Grant’s K-12 education and outreach programming, Maile helps build ocean literacy among teachers, students and their families. She orchestrates all aspects of Orca Bowl and NOAA Science Camp, develops program partnerships, and designs and implements program evaluation tools.
Maile’s history with Washington Sea Grant includes working as the organization’s event coordinator, NOAA Science Camp coordinator and education assistant.
She also spent two years as a coral program specialist with NOAA Fisheries, where she managed regional coral reef efforts in U.S. jurisdictions and implemented the new, congressionally mandated Deep Sea CoralResearch and Technology Program. Previously, she served as the education director for Camp SEA LAB, where she grew its marine science education offerings from a five-week summer camp to year-round programming serving more than 1,500 youth annually. She also worked in the Netherlands Antilles as a marine conservation technician focused on community engagement. Maile has consulted for the National Geographic Society and the Ocean Conservancy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Connecticut College and a master’s degree in Marine Affairs from the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington.
