Our conservation efforts around the world are supported by a dedicated, brilliant team.
Senior Leadership
Heather Starck
Executive Director
Kristin Sherwood
Director, Strategic Impact
Dr. Helen Fox
Director, Conservation Science
Jenny Myton
Global Lead, Protected Areas and Clean Water Solutions
Mandy Norman
Director, Development and Marketing
Kristy Ives
Director, Finance and Operations
Western Caribbean HUB
Tanya Amaya
Regional Director, Conservation Programs (Western Caribbean)
Pamela Ortega
Manager, Clean Water (Western Caribbean)
Javier Pizaña-Alonso
Program Manager, Mexico
Julio San Martin Chicas
Program Manager, North Coast (Honduras)
Monica Urrutia
Community Scientist
Ana Bessy Valdés Martínez
Community Scientist
Hawaiʻi
Erica Perez
Senior Manager, Clean Water (Hawai'i)
Makayla Rickard
Program Manager, Maui Nui
Mihana Ho
Field Tech, Maui Nui
Kehau Kimokeo
Community Engagement Coordinator (Maui Nui)
Conservation Science
Dr. Antonella Rivera
Senior Manager, Conservation Science
Dr. Andrea Rivera-Sosa
Manager, Science to Policy and Practice
Sarah Severino
Manager, Science (Maui Nui)
Mayra Nuñez
Research Assistant (Western Caribbean)
Ben Charo
Program Coordinator, Conservation Science
Development and Marketing
Kate Beebe
Associate Director, Brand and Communications
Logan Gerber
Associate Director, Corporate Giving
Halae Fuller
Senior Manager, Grants
Maria McDonough
Manager, Philanthropy
Kathryn Kelly
Manager, Growth Marketing
Allison Coleman
Manager, Grants
Heather Rowan
Coordinator, Development and Marketing Operations
Finance and Operations
Zach Hoffman
Associate Director, Program Operations
Sheyla Maldonado
Manager, People and Culture
Inside Coral
2025 Greatest Hits of the CORAL Blog
This year was a big one for coral reefs and the Coral Reef Alliance! As the year comes to a close, we’re looking back at the stories that resonated most. The ones that traveled farthest, sparked curiosity, and helped connect more people to the future of coral reefs. Over 120,000(!!) of you read our stories… Continue Reading →
Scaling Coral Reef Conservation With Heather Starck
The Coral Reef Alliance is entering one of the most pivotal chapters in its 30-year history. With a major expansion into the Eastern Caribbean and an ambitious strategic plan already in motion, Executive Director Heather Starck is steering the organization toward deeper regional impact and stronger global collaboration, all while staying true to CORAL’s core… Continue Reading →
CORAL Launches New Eastern Caribbean Hub
BREAKING: The Coral Reef Alliance is expanding to the Eastern Caribbean! For more than 30 years, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has teamed up with communities, scientists, and governments across Hawai‘i, the Mesoamerican Reef, and the Indo-Pacific to protect coral reefs and the people who depend on them. From keeping 30+ million gallons of sewage… Continue Reading →
Want to Save Coral Reefs? 4 Proven Strategies That Actually Work
The ripple effects of coral reefs reach nearly every coastline and community on the planet. Reefs support the seafood we eat, protect homes from storms, and provide ingredients for lifesaving medicines. But they’re in crisis. Half have already been lost, and nearly all could disappear by 2050 if we don’t intentionally act now. The good… Continue Reading →
How Snapshot Assessments Shape CORAL’s Next Chapter
By now, you’ve heard CORAL is in growth mode, and we’re determined to make our expansion meaningful and lasting. Our team is going to great lengths to figure out exactly where we’ll go next. And it goes far beyond spinning a globe and picking a spot at random. I sat down with our Strategic Impact… Continue Reading →
A Day in the Life of Coral Reef Monitoring
If you think coral reef monitoring is just swimming with fish and snapping pretty underwater pictures, well, you’re only half right. Behind the scenes, it’s an adventure that starts with spreadsheets and ends with salt-crusted gear and happy exhaustion. I was extremely lucky to meet Gabriela Ugarte from Belize Audubon Society (BAS), who was leading… Continue Reading →
It Takes an Alliance to Save Coral Reefs. Ready to Meet Ours?
Coral reefs can’t be saved alone. At CORAL, we believe that the biggest challenges require collective action. That’s why our work is grounded in our alliance of over 100 partner organizations, including 11 dedicated “core” partner organizations across the globe. Together, we’re channeling $1.4 million in funding and shared expertise to support local leaders on… Continue Reading →
A Bold New Plan for Coral Reef Conservation
Coral reefs are at a tipping point—and so is the movement to save them. Today, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is proud to launch our new 2025-2030 strategic plan: a bold, actionable strategy designed to ensure tomorrow’s reefs are stronger, more resilient, and better protected than ever before. This plan is our commitment. One that… Continue Reading →