Coastal Advocate | Coastal Management Program Director
Kerri works to protect North Carolina’s coast through policy and advocacy, helping shape decisions that support clean water, thriving ecosystems, and resilient communities. As the Coastal Management Program Director, she coordinates efforts across local, state, and federal levels and serves as a registered lobbyist, making sure the coast has a seat at the table where decisions are made.
Before joining the Federation in 2018, Kerri spent nearly a decade in coastal science, working in research labs, ocean observing programs, and ocean literacy. Her experience ranges from hydrodynamic modeling and sediment analysis to coastal mapping and community-based conservation initiatives.
Throughout her career, she’s brought together scientists, residents, and policymakers to move forward practical, science-backed solutions for the coast. A North Carolina native, Kerri holds a master’s degree in Coastal Geology and undergraduate degrees in Geosciences, Environmental Studies, and Geospatial Technologies from UNC Wilmington.
Most mornings, you’ll find her paddling into the sunrise in an outrigger canoe—because she loves the coast too much to only protect it from land.