A Dynamic Program, a Dynamic Team

Eric is the Director of the Cape Eleuthera Institute and is a marine scientist interested in fisheries and other human-wildlife interactions. He has worked with fishers and other resource users to collaboratively design research projects that benefit humans and marine ecosystems. This stakeholder-centered approach is central to his research and conservation work, as it serves to build buy-in and leads to more successful outcomes. Eric is a member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, holds Adjunct Professor appointments at Memorial University of Newfoundland and University of Massachusetts Amherst, and coordinates the research experience for our Semester students. He also works on agroforestry and food security projects.

Albury is the Assistant Director of the Cape Eleuthera Institute. Originally from a small island in Abaco, they are a researcher and data scientist focused on applying data-driven solutions to climate and environmental justice. Albury’s research program at CEI seeks to deploy data acquisition systems and algorithmic approaches to increase efficiencies in water and energy systems on the Island School campus, which serves as a regional model for renewable energy integration. Their previous research, which studied the responses of marine microbes to environmental change, applied bioinformatic techniques that inspired their interests in scientific computing, reproducibility, and open science. Albury has worked as a data scientist for the Canadian government in a range of fields, including city infrastructure and salmon fisheries. They are passionate about sparking scientific curiosity in learners of all ages and have developed and delivered coding workshops in The Bahamas and internationally.

Johny started The Island School 10 years ago as a Landscape Technician. He is originally from Haiti and has integrated himself well in Bahamian culture and The Island School alike. He was a part of The Bahamas National Neighbourhood (watch) Council with the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He is also an avid Conch Fest participant. He loves being a part of The Island School community and meeting new people from all walks of life from around the world. He loves having fun and is most comfortable being in front of the camera. Johny’s famous quote, “Keep it going.”

Brett joins The Island School as a renewable energy specialist and systems engineer. He brings a background in solar PV, small wind, and distributed power generation, having cut his teeth in the profit-driven renewables grind of Canada. Brett is a believer in community-centric approaches to living, and much prefers the lifestyle on Eleuthera to the one he left behind. Prior to all of this, Brett was a traveler, ESL teacher, and wayward purpose-seeker.

A Nassau native, Dr. Candace Fields completed her Ph.D. in the Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab at Florida International University. After finishing her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience (2017) she spent two years at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, where she was a key member of the pelagic research team. Candace’s research focuses on the population dynamics and geographic population structure of large predators, with a particular focus on the critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark. She is passionate about shark conservation and being a Bahamian advocate for the protection and importance of sharks and rays in The Bahamas and is proud to be the first Bahamian shark researcher to obatain a PhD. Candace also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Sharks4Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation of shark advocates. In this role, she works to encourage Bahamian youth to play active roles in the conservation of their marine resources, and understand the importance of sharks in our oceans! Candace is excited to be back at the Cape Eleuthera Institute leading the shark research and conservation program and enjoying island life with her Potcake, Walker!

Kennedy first came to The Island School in 2018 as a summer intern, working with the dive team. She studied Marine Biology and Spanish at the University of Miami and is now completing her Master’s in Biology with Miami University’s Global Field Program. Kennedy returned to The Island School in 2021 to work as a Coral Research Technician and then taught applied research, marine ecology, and scuba diving. More recently, Kennedy worked as a Coral Disease Associate with Florida Sea Grant, coordinating response efforts to mitigate the devastating impacts of stony coral tissue loss disease across the U.S. coral jurisdictions. Kennedy is excited to return to the Cape Eleuthera Institute as the Research Partnerships Coordinator where she will continue to share her passions for ocean conservation and expand our impact as a center for sustainable development and research.

Mia is a true CARICOM national. Born and raised in Saint Lucia, she has lived and worked across the Caribbean, including in Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Jamaica and now The Bahamas. She is an aquaculturist by training, with a broader academic and professional background in environmental and marine science. Her work focuses on sustainable food systems, aquaculture, and innovative approaches to local food production. Mia currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of the Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub and The Blue Atlas Project, contributing to regional efforts in research, capacity building, and education. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially at the beach, which remains her happy place. More recently, she has taken up woodworking as a creative hobby.

Elidieu Joseph, lovingly called Joseph, hails from the beautiful country of Haiti. He is the grandfather of The Island School alongside Chris Maxey. Joseph began his journey here over 18 years ago during the infancy stages of what was to become an important landmark here in Eleuthera—The Island School. His hand and foot-prints can be seen all over the campus for the tireless work he has put in to make this place the beauty that it is today. Joseph is known by all and loved tremendously by staff and students alike. When you meet him, you are embraced by one of the biggest, honest smiles that simply engulfs you; then you hear “Mon ami” – my friend! His life’s mission is to work hard for his family back home in Haiti.

Natalia is a Colombian marine biologist who started studying coral population and growth to improve coral restoration for her undergraduate and master’s theses. Since 2008, she has been involved in many coral projects in Colombia, The Netherlands, Bonaire, Curaçao and Qatar. Now, she is applying her expertise at the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub project, hoping to help to rehabilitate threatened coral populations by using sexual and asexual propagation to grow and research different coral species. Natalia has been teaching dive courses for the last 15 years, training beginners, divemasters, new instructors and teaching specialties like the PADI Reef Rescue Course.

Vincent, the gentle giant of The Island School. He has been with the school now for over 5 years. Vincent was originally born in The Bahamas and, at a very young age, moved to Haiti. Much later in his adult years, he returned to The Bahamas. Vincent is highly skilled in a number of different areas. He is a farmer, landscaper, and mason. You can see all aspects of his work on campus from the farm, to the beautiful landscape to the rock walls. He is affectionately known as a beast on campus; as he can take on the task of 3 men and accomplish it with finesse and ease. Vincent does not speak much, but he smiles and his actions count for a thousand words. Every chance he gets, he runs back home to Haiti to his wife and 4 daughters.

Born and raised in West End, Grand Bahama, Silia has always had a passion for the ocean. She studied Marine Biology at The University of New Brunswick and is now based at the Bahamas Coral Innovation Hub. Here, Silia contributes to coral restoration research, outreach, and education efforts in South Eleuthera. She joined the team as an intern supported by The Nature Conservancy back in 2019. She has been promoted to Research Technician, then Research Assistant, and is now a full-time researcher.

Noah Sonnenberg is a Fall 2014 Island School alum who has returned to Eleuthera as a researcher and educator with the Cape Eleuthera Institute. His early experience at The Island School inspired his passion for marine science and set him on the path toward shark conservation. After earning a degree in finance from Elon University, Noah pursued his master’s in marine biology at the University of Miami, where he studied bonnethead sharks using drones and hormone analysis to understand their behavior and reproduction. At CEI, Noah is beginning a new research project that will combine drone-based surveys with field captures to study sharks in Bahamian waters. In addition to his research, Noah is excited to share this work with students, fostering the same sense of curiosity and connection to the ocean that shaped his own journey.

Paityn’s connection to The Island School began as a semester student in Fall 2015. Her time in Eleuthera deepened her love for the environment and inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan, followed by a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from Northeastern University. After two years working in the energy efficiency sector, Paityn has returned to The Bahamas to lead the agroforestry project at the Cape Eleuthera Institute. Her work focuses on enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health, and building ecosystem resilience, all with the goal of strengthening food security and fostering sustainable local economies.

Natalie is Bahamian and grew up in England, where she completed her bachelor’s in zoology and master’s in ecology, evolution and conservation at Imperial College London. In her role as research faculty at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, Natalie uses a combination of visual line transect surveys, photo-identification, and acoustic monitoring to collect data on the abundance and distribution of deep-diving toothed whales in the Exuma Sound. Natalie also facilitates logistics for the Hurricane Glider project in collaboration with the University of Miami CIMAS and NOAA AOML, deploying autonomous underwater vehicles into the western Atlantic to collect oceanographic data for use in hurricane models and forecasting. Natalie’s previous experience in marine research and education has taken her to Vancouver Island in Canada and Exmouth Western Australia, and she loves hiking, camping, and trail running. She has spent lots of time working outdoors and from boats teaching children how to ski and sail, and moved here with her potcake and first mate, Winnie.

Growing up on Eleuthera, Tereno developed an early love for the ocean. This ran especially deep for native aquatic creatures such as the Queen Conch and Nassau Grouper, and led him to pursue a bachelor’s in fisheries and aquaculture at Vancouver Island University. While studying in Canada, Tereno received hands-on experience culturing many diverse organisms, ranging from salmon to Pacific oysters and even geoduck. Earlier this year, though, his heart led him to bring this aquaculture expertise back to The Bahamas. These days, if you look for him, chances are you’ll find him somewhere along the coast of Eleuthera or near the waters of Nassau—two places he’s always called home. Here, he would most likely be diving into what he loves most: researching and culturing Queen Conch. Tereno is also dedicated to ensuring future generations can experience the rich marine life he cherished growing up, and—when not immersed in conch research—he prefers tinkering with code, tending to his small farm, or fishing.

Anjleen joined the Cape Eleuthera Institute at the beginning of November 2025 with the coral program. She is a marine biologist working with coral reef ecosystems and a trained scientific diver. She was previously based in Europe and Southeast Asia, including India, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Maldives, and has recently relocated to The Bahamas for her role as assistant research faculty. Her focus research field examines the role of artificial reef structures, with an interest in shipwrecks functioning as habitats for marine communities. She completed her master’s in marine biology at Bremen University in September 2023 and worked with Sri Lankan based organisations on coral reef monitoring and mapping projects. In addition to her work in the field and underwater, Anjleen is a comic illustrator and works with creative science communication. Her new role with CEI will also focus on integrating and furthering research and marine education.