A Dynamic Program, a Dynamic Team

Nick is a Bahamian marine biologist that hails from the fishing town of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera. Before returning to The Bahamas to lead the Cape Eleuthera Institute at The Island School, Nick worked as Deputy Director of the Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth in the UK. He began his research career studying the ecology and biodiversity of deep-sea habitats, completing his doctoral research at the University of Leeds and Natural History Museum, London. He has since diversified his research interests and is currently focussed on sustainable fisheries in The Bahamas, particularly the spiny lobster fishery.

Eric is our Assistant Director of Research & Innovation. His work focuses on improving the sustainability of fisheries and conserving marine biodiversity. He has collaborated with fishers on projects focused on a variety of commercially and recreationally important species, including stone crabs, pelagic sportfish, and bonefish. Eric received a BSc in Biology from Gettysburg College, an MSc in Natural Resources & Environmental Science from the University of Illinois, and a PhD in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Glasgow. Eric is the Island School Research Class Coordinator and has been teaching The Semester Research Class since 2013.

Dorlan is a Bahamian bioprocess engineer from New Providence. Prior to joining CEI, he worked as a Process Engineer at Verso Paper in Michigan, USA and Assistant Residence Director at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. He received a B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Youngstown State University and M.Sc. in Bioprocess Engineering from SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry, During his tenure as a graduate researcher, his thesis focused on thermochemical hemicellulose extraction of invasive Casuarina lignocellulosic biomass to produce biofuels and bioplastics. At CEI, he conducts research in utilizing fungi to produce food and biomaterials.

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 in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and Dominica, among other places. She is an aquaculturist by training but her educational and professional background also expand to include environmental and marine science. Her intention is to ensure that there will always be fresh lettuce available to all on campus, among other hydroponically produced vegetables. As would be expected, she does enjoy spending her time outside, the beach is her happy place. She also enjoys watching TV and considers popcorn to be a food group.

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.