Students from The University of Mississippi (UM), The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the University of South Alabama/Dauphin Island Sea Lab (USA/DISL) have been selected as finalists for the 2025 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program. The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium endorsed their applications for the prestigious national fellowship and will administer their funding throughout their fellowships.
As Knauss Fellows, Kennady Hertz (a UM graduate student), Autumn Moya (a USM graduate student) and Alexandra Smith (who has successfully defended her Ph.D. at USA/DISL) will spend one year in Washington, D.C. As part of a cohort of 88 early-career professionals, they will work alongside federal agencies, applying their academic expertise to critical marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy issues.
Later this month, they will participate in interviews with several executive offices to determine where they will spend their fellowship, which begins in February 2025.
Kennady Hertz
Hertz, a master’s student studying integrated marketing communication at UM, possesses a unique blend of marketing expertise and policy knowledge. She previously earned a bachelor of arts degree in public policy leadership, graduating summa cum laude, with minors in intelligence and security studies and Italian.
Her diverse experiences, including her internship at the National Sea Grant Law Center, where she researched marine and coastal policies, have shaped her understanding of environmental issues and how to effectively communicate complex topics to a broad audience. She excels in simplifying technical language, which has been demonstrated through her work with Indigenous communities.
As a student, Hertz has been actively involved in sustainability efforts, including her role with the University of Mississippi’s Green Fund, where she reviews and selects sustainability project proposals. This hands-on experience has provided her with invaluable insights into the decision-making processes behind environmental policy and resource allocation.
This past summer, Hertz worked on environmental and trade policies related to carbon border adjustments at Silverado Policy Accelerator. This experience sharpened her skills in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and translating technical data into actionable policy recommendations.
Through the Knauss Fellowship, Hertz aims to further her goal of using strategic communication to influence marine and coastal policy at the federal level. Her experience working on bipartisan solutions and her leadership in sustainability initiatives position her to make a meaningful impact on marine conservation efforts. Hertz’s long-term vision is to bring her expertise back to her home state of Mississippi, where she hopes to inspire local communities to recognize the importance of environmental stewardship.
Autumn Moya
Moya is pursuing a master’s degree in coastal sciences at USM, where she works as a graduate research assistant at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. She is modeling the effects offshore wind energy developments may have on the future of the Atlantic surfclam fishery with the Science Center for Marine Fisheries.
Her research is focused on the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf, where near-term offshore wind energy areas are projected to overlap with commercially important species of clams. Using spatially explicit modeling, she provides insight for stakeholders, policymakers and scientists on the intersection of marine resources and renewable energy.
Moya has a diverse academic and research background, from participating in a NOAA summer groundfish survey to working as an intern with the National Marine Fisheries Service-Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Hispanic Access Foundation and the National Park Service.
She has a Bachelor of Science in biology with an emphasis in environmental biology and ecology and minors in mathematics and chemistry from Western Colorado University. She also works as a mentor for high school students interested in STEAM with Our Future is Science. Her training has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of marine and coastal resource management.
Her work in spatial modeling for marine multi-use and the blue economy, and engagement with communities, developed her ability to communicate scientific research in accessible ways. She strives to contribute to informed policy decisions in the future centered around coastal resource management and sustainable marine fisheries.
Alexandra Smith
Smith has successfully defended her Ph.D. in marine sciences at USA and DISL, where she developed an extensive research portfolio focused on the sulfur cycle.
Her academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University, which equipped her with a strong foundation in both engineering and environmental science. Throughout her doctoral studies, Smith was a key contributor to international collaborative research, including a major upwelling experiment off the coast of Peru, in which she explored phytoplankton dynamics and nutrient cycles. The experience shaped her interest in applying scientific knowledge to real-world policy challenges.
Smith consistently demonstrated a passion for public engagement, from mentoring undergraduate students to helping lead her lab’s educational activities at events like Discovery Day at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Through creative and accessible demonstrations, such as her interactive "sulfur smelling station," she made complex marine science topics engaging for the public.
Her selection as a Knauss Fellow reflects her academic achievements and her adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Sally. She successfully balanced the disruptions while continuing her research and teaching. Her diverse background, ranging from chemical engineering to marine science, positions her to make a lasting impact on marine policy..
More about the fellowship
As in previous years, this year’s finalists were selected through a competitive process that involved review panels composed of national experts in marine science, policy and education. Over the past 45 years, the Knauss Fellowship has supported more than 1,680 students who have significantly contributed to environmental policy and management and built lasting careers.
“This year’s Knauss Fellowship cohort exemplifies the passion and expertise necessary to address the evolving challenges facing our coasts and oceans,” said Dr. Jonathan Pennock, director of the National Sea Grant College Program. “We are confident that their dedication to serving through science will lead to innovative solutions that sustain coastal and marine resources and communities for future generations.”
The Knauss Fellowship is a paid opportunity for current and recent graduates from advanced degree programs to apply their scientific knowledge and experiences to current issues in science, policy and public administration. Students who are enrolled in or have recently completed master’s, Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs with a focus and/or interest in marine and coastal science, policy or management apply through one of the 33 eligible Sea Grant programs.
The 2025 finalists consist of 44 master’s students, 41 Ph.D. candidates and 3 J.D. candidates from 70 universities across the country. They are geographers, ichthyologists, ecologists, lawyers, environmental managers and more.