Nomination Statement for Hannah Campbell, Recipient of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s 2020 Outstanding Educator Award

Hannah Campbell is the Director of Education at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), Juno Beach, Florida, which welcomes over 350,000 visitors a year. The mission of Loggerhead Marinelife Center is to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles with a portfolio four areas: Education, Rehabilitation, Research and Conservation.

Informal and experiential science experiences have been shown to be powerful partners with classroom STEM education to inspire students to both increase their science literacy and enter scientific careers. Utilizing an iconic species like the sea turtle as an entry point for scientific inquiry and conservation efforts is especially important for young girls. Hannah Campbell is a superb role model because of her accomplishments, talents and personal life story.

Hannah is a leader in STEM education. She inspires “students of all ages” and especially elementary age students to appreciate and protect South Florida’s unique marine ecosystems. In 2018, under Hannah’s direction, LMC engaged more than 65,000 students in 39 programs delivered on LMC’s Campus, in Palm Beach County schools, the Juno Beach Pier and globally through Project SWIM (Serving World’s Imperiled Marine life. Hannah, working with a team of educators, biologists and docents, leads all eco-programming and coordinates with local and international authorities to implement community projects to expand LMC’s reach across Palm Beach County and the globe.

Hannah supervises all Education Department full-time staff members, volunteers and seasonal staff, creates the educational programming and curriculum, writes grants and solicits philanthropic gifts, generates and manages the revenue-producing educational budget (which helps to keep free admission and funds underserved students), provides strategic visioning and is a spokesperson for conservation. Her vision, strategic initiatives and hard work have resulted in a tripling of LMC’s education programming and outreach in just three years.

As an indication of the respect she garners from her peers, Hannah has just been elected the South East Regional Director for the Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA). She also :
• sits on the Palm Beach County STEM Education Council, participates on Academic and Career Pathways Committee to support science educators, and provides free environmental education resources on marine science and ocean conservation.
• partners with Florida Atlantic University Green School Recognition program to help Palm Beach and Martin County educators implement green (and blue) initiatives, recognizing top students with Blue Leaders Awards.
• is active in the Palm Beach County chapter of RISE (Resources in Science Education), science educators dedicated to environmental science education.
•piloted LMC’s Partnership in Education (PiE) with Limestone Creek Elementary, where LMC biologists test new teaching resources.
• hosts Palm Beach County STEM teachers for professional growth experiences through the STEM Externship Program. She also raised the money to fund this program for the past three summers.
• develops and trains LMC staff and docents on STEM-standards-aligned curriculum available through LMC’s Educator Portal on marinelife.org.
• designed, launched and directs Project SWIM (Serving World’s Imperiled Marine life). Project SWIM takes guests to global locations (recently Hawaii, Bonaire, Nicaragua) to help like-minded conservation organizations achieve their conservation goals by providing volunteers and financial support from LMC participants. This year she expanded the program to Juno Beach Florida.

Hannah is a superb role model. Her vision engage people from all walks of life in environmental stewardship. Her motivating programs range from invasive species removal; to dune planting on critically important sea turtle nesting beaches, in-water debris clean-ups and gopher tortoise habitat improvements. Everyone can find a spot in classes ranging from Debris-free Seas and Ocean Exploration, Junior Marine Biologist Summer & Seasonal Camps, to Science for Seniors.

She is a University of Florida Master Naturalist Program Lead Instructor, a member of the Palm Beach County STEM Education Committee, a member of the Academic & Career Pathways Committee, a member of American Canoe Association (ACA), and a Safety Education & Instruction Council (SEIC) member. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, and is currently enrolled in the FAU Master’s program in Community Education. She is a member of the 2019-2020 Palm Beach County Leadership class.

Hannah is an Aquatic Species Collection Workshop facilitator for Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA), educating teachers, industry professionals and students in proper handling and observation of species. She is a certified Level II ACA Kayak Instructor, AED/CPR Certified and has completed Red Cross Lifeguard Training.

Hannah received the Girl Scouts of America 2018 Emerald Awards Honor in recognition of her contributions to STEM education and as a role model for young girls.
Hannah is creative in developing ways to integrate STEM Education into experiential learning experiences. Some of Hannah’s most recent creative ventures range from:
• creating first ever open-access Virtual Field Trip program through the School District, available to all public elementary, middle and high schools;
• creating a sleepover program at LMC and supervising the “Best of Palm Beach” Birthday Parties ;
• creating the Virtual Turtle Walk program;
• Expanding Project SWIM (Serving the World’s Imperiled Marine life) to Juno Beach.

Hannah embraces diversity and inclusion by bringing underserved students conservation programming, applying for and receiving Title One funding to welcome underserved school children to Ocean Exploration field trips. She piloted LMC’s Partnership in Education (PiE) with Limestone Creek Elementary (a Title one school), where LMC biologists test new teaching resources. She partnered with the STEM Education Council for mentees of the Palm Beach County STEM Mentorship program from the Glades (rural and poverty stricken area) to utilize LMC resources. Hannah also started the first programs in American Sign Language at Loggerhead with the help of a hearing impaired staffer.
Hannah is a spokesperson for conservation. She was one of five marine conservation professionals selected by the Ocean Conservancy to represent Florida conservation efforts to advocate for NOAA appropriations on Capitol Hill March 2018, speaking to congressional and senate representatives over three days to advocate from an on-the-ground conservation perspective. Hannah hosted a "table talk" at the Food For Thought fundraiser for the West Palm Beach Library; and installed a four-week exhibit at the Palm Beach County Cultural Council’s installation project, The Satellite at CityPlace “Our Ocean Crisis to Our Ocean Solution”.

Hannah has grit, gumption, and integrity. Few know that in March 2014 Hannah suffered a life-threatening car accident, resulting in a “hang-man’s fracture” that doctors feared would leave her unable to resume her active life. Hannah had titanium rods implanted and was immobile for eight months. Once removed, she tenaciously follows an ongoing course of physical therapy and a dedicated health routine that makes her pursuit of marine science possible. Hannah has regained 85% mobility (and counting). During her time in physical therapy, she helped three other spinal injury patients regain to confidence, by becoming a training partner and providing emotional support. She has also regained the ability to scuba dive, a goal that helped drive her through the hard times.

Hannah inspires all who meet her. She represents the best of today’s marine science leadership and is an exemplary role model. As you can see from this extensive but incomplete list, Hannah is a true leader in environmental education and fosters fruitful partnerships locally and globally. Her combination of creativity, practicality, leadership, intellectual capability, and drive is unique. Rare is the person who creates a project, runs it up the appropriate channels for approval, budgets it accurately and then brings to fruition on or before schedule. Hannah has the leadership skills to accomplish extraordinary things with getting buy-in from teammates, employees and supervisors. She is a true role model for young people to both enter a STEM career and lead a meaningful life.

Hannah is, and will continue to be, a leader in the nonprofit and educational world in the areas of conservation, eco-tourism, STEM education and marine science. She will be a truly inspirational choice for the Wildlife Society Florida Chapter Outstanding Educator Award.