TAMU-CC, HRI and CCME-II: The Power of Collaboration and Hands-on Experience
The master of science (MS) degree is important for Angelica Ovalle, but of greater importance is the chance to learn and network with the group of scientists and researchers at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
Ovalle is a Graduate Research Assistant with HRI’s HydroEcology lab and is pursuing an MS degree in Environmental Sciences at TAMU-CC and is part of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME-II) scholar program. Through the CCME-II program, Ovalle is provided an opportunity to “bridge a gap between book knowledge and practical application.”
“This transition from classroom learning to real experiences has built my confidence in research and writing, since I can effectively communicate research findings to broad audiences, not just other researchers,” said Ovalle, a native of San Antonio. “As I progress in my career, all of the skills and networking that I have experienced from being a part of this leading research center is the foundation in pursuing advanced roles in environmental sustainability.”
This academic year, Ovalle will be among 13 graduate students at HRI supported by CCME-II, providing them with the necessary resources and opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research. This support is crucial for fostering the next generation of scientists.
Miles Jordan is a new graduate student who received a degree from Florida A&M University in 2023, and echoed Ovalle on the importance of the CCME program and being a part of HRI. Jordan is pursuing an MS degree in Marine Biology and will work with HRI’s Coastal Ecosystems Processes lab.
“The training and support I’ll gain while working at HRI will help progress my professional career because the experience will give me the expertise and tools to utilize not just through my research, but also when I eventually enter the workforce,” said Jordan, who is from Nashville, Tennessee. “It will allow me to tackle the complex issues facing marine ecosystems and provide parameters to further protect our natural resources.”
NOAA’s CCME program has been a cornerstone of academic and research excellence at HRI and TAMU-CC for close to two decades. As HRI and TAMU-CC continue to build on its legacy of innovation and scientific discovery, the 2024-25 academic year marks a significant milestone in its collaboration with CCME-II.
The goal of CCME-II is to recruit, educate, train, and graduate a new generation of scientists in NOAA-mission aligned STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines, equipped to utilize interdisciplinary approaches to address issues confronting marine and coastal communities. CCME-II is one of four educational Cooperative Science Centers funded under the NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions.
The CCME program is set to receive a 24% boost in funding compared to the previous academic year. This increase in financial support from NOAA reflects the growing recognition of the program’s importance and the impact it has on the academic community and the broader field of environmental science. The ongoing collaboration between HRI and NOAA’s CCME-II program highlights the importance of sustained investment in environmental research and education. Plus, at least two recent HRI grads have recently taken jobs within NOAA to highlight the success of the program at HRI and TAMU-CC.
“The professional development that is offered through funding is invaluable; conferences, NERTO (NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunities), and workshops all play a key role in networking outside of HRI,” Ovalle said.
HRI and TAMU-CC are part of a consortium of six universities that participate in the program, which also includes Florida A&M University, Bethune-Cookman University, Jackson State University, Cal State-Monterrey Bay, and the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
“Our students are competing with the best people in the country and seeing success,” said Paul Montagna, HRI’s Endowed Chair for HydroEcology and HRI’s institutional lead for the CCME program. “The program is working as it was designed and we are creating colleagues throughout the federal service that we can work with. We can be very proud of that as a whole university, and not just HRI.”
Below is a summary of the accomplishments for the NOAA Center for Coastal & Marine Ecosystems at HRI for the 2023-24 academic year.
- 11 graduate students supported
- 4 students graduated
- 5 students completed NERTO at NOAA labs.
Below is a summary of students that are a part of the CCME program at HRI and TAMU-CC.
Graduates Academic Year 2023-2024:
- Anthony Lima, Ph.D. (Coastal and Marine Systems), Coastal Conservation & Restoration, graduated Fall 2023
- Neina Chapa, MS (Coastal and Marine Systems), Coastal Conservation & Restoration, graduated Spring 2024
- Alyssa Outhwaite, Ph.D. (Marine Biology), Coastal Conservation & Restoration, graduated Spring 2024
- Christian Amos, MS (Chemistry), Ecosystem Science and Modeling, graduated Summer 2024
Completed NERTO in 2023-2024:
- Christian Amos, MS (Chemistry), Dr. Denis Pierrot, Miami, Florida
- Neina Chapa, MS (Coastal and Marine Systems), Dr. Irma Lagomarsino, Portland, Oregon
- Felipe Urrutia, MS (Marine Biology), Dr. Chris Kelble, Miami, Florida
- Miranda White, Ph.D. (Coastal and Marine Systems), Jebb Stewart, Boulder, Colorado
- Angelica Ovalle, MS (Environmental Science), Dr. Marie DeLorenzo, Charleston, South Carolina
Continuing Students for AY 2024-2025:
- Susana Gonzalez, Ph.D. (Coastal and Marine Systems), Coastal Ecosystem Processes
- Dijani Laplace, MS (Environmental Science), TAMU-CC Environmental Science
- Nigel Lascelles, MS (Coastal and Marine Systems), TAMU-CC Environmental Science
- Felipe Urrutia, MS (Marine Biology), TAMU-CC Department of Life Sciences
- Miranda White, Ph.D. (Coastal and Marine Systems), TAMU-CC Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences
- Angelica Ovalle, MS (Environmental Science), HydroEcology
New Students for AY 2024-2025:
- Kate Gomez-Rangel, MS (Fisheries and Mariculture), Coral Reef and Ocean Health
- Kalie Tovar, MS (Coastal and Marine Systems), Coastal Ecosystem Processes
- Eva Jundt, Ph.D. (Coastal and Marine Systems), HydroEcology
- Narita Ramirez, MS (Environmental Science), Marine Policy and Law
- Miles Jordan, MS (Marine Biology), Coastal Ecosystem Processes
- David Silva, Ph.D. (Marine Biology), TAMU-CC Marine Biology
- Laurynn Thompson-Torres, Ph.D. (Marine Biology), Laboratory for Environmental Health