Annual meeting group picture showing 20+ people in ocean-themed costumes

Annual Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who attended our 2024 Annual Meeting on December 4 in Durham, NH. We enjoyed great food and fun trivia, and members showcased their creativity by showing up in costume! Here’s a 50-second photo recap:

Welcome to our new board members Kim Clark, Juliet Fluty, Keri Kaczor, and Karlee Markovich!

Congratulations and thank you to our officers:

Cassie Stymiest, President
Dari Christenson, Past President
Michael Doherty, President-Elect
Tara Hicks-Johnson, Treasurer
Daryn Clevesy, Secretary

Thank you, Dari, for your leadership over the past year!

Annual Meeting Photos

GOMMEA Board of Directors
2024-2025

  • Dari Christenson        (2026)            NH Sea Grant & UNH Extension, Marine Education Program Manager 
  • Kim Clarke*                (2027)            Gulf of Maine Research Institute, LabVenture Visit Manager
  • Daryn Clevesy            (2025)            Educational Passages, Program Coordinator
  • Mike Doherty              (2026)            UNH, Aquaculture Specialist
  • Patricia Halpin            (2026)            UNH Manchester, Professor Physiology and Marine Toxicology
  • Juliet Fluty*                 (2025)            St. James Elementary, Biddeford, ME, Teacher
  • Nell Herrmann            (2025)            Blue Hill Consolidated School, Science Teacher                   
  • Tara Hicks-Johnson    (2026)            UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, Outreach Specialist
  • Keri Kaczor*                (2027)            UMaine Sea Grant, Environmental Literacy and WD Program Manager
  • Karlee Markovich*     (2027)            Conners Emerson School, Ocean Science Teacher
  • Bill McWeeny              (2025)            The CALVIN Project & Harbor School, Science Teacher
  • Lisa Pagano                (2026)            Winnacunnet High School, Science Teacher
  • Ann Reid                      (2027)            UNH Marine Docent, Retired Educator
  • Ben Segee                  (2026)            Oceanarium and Education Center, Lead Aquarist
  • Cassie Stymiest         (2027)           Educational Passages, Executive Director
  • Nicole Sullivan            (2026)            Blue Ocean Society, Education Program Coordinator
  • Julianne Taylor           (2025)            Bar Harbor Whale Watch, Lead Naturalist

*  New Board Member

** Renewing Board Member 

Thank you to all the board members for your dedication to GOMMEA!

GOMMEA Board Slate for 2024-2025

Per our bylaws, the GOMMEA Nominating Committee shall submit a slate of Nominees for election to the Board of Directors in writing at least one calendar month before the annual meeting. Here is the proposed slate for 2024-2025. Congratulations to all nominees, and thank you to the entire board for your service to GOMMEA!

We’ll vote on this slate during the December 4, 2024 annual meeting. See you there!

GOMMEA Proposed Board Slate 2024-2025 (updated December 4 2024)

Dari Christenson        (2026)            NH Sea Grant & UNH Extension, Marine Education Program Manager 

Kim Clarke*                (2027)            Gulf of Maine Research Institute, LabVenture Visit Manager

Daryn Clevesy            (2025)            Educational Passages, Program Coordinator

Mike Doherty              (2026)            UNH, Aquaculture Specialist

Patricia Halpin            (2026)            UNH Manchester, Professor Physiology and Marine Toxicology

Juliet Fluty*                 (2025)            St. James Elementary, Biddeford, ME, Teacher

Nell Herrmann            (2025)            Blue Hill Consolidated School, Science Teacher                   

Tara Hicks-Johnson    (2026)            UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, Outreach Specialist

Keri Kaczor*                (2027)            UMaine Sea Grant, Environmental Literacy and WD Program Manager

Karlee Markovich*     (2027)            Conners Emerson School, Ocean Science Teacher

Bill McWeeny              (2025)            The CALVIN Project & Harbor School, Science Teacher

Lisa Pagano                (2026)            Winnacunnet High School, Science Teacher

Ann Reid                      (2027)            UNH Marine Docent, Retired Educator

Ben Segee                  (2026)            Oceanarium and Education Center, Lead Aquarist

Cassie Stymiest         (2027)           Educational Passages, Executive Director

Nicole Sullivan            (2026)            Blue Ocean Society, Education Program Coordinator

Julianne Taylor           (2025)            Bar Harbor Whale Watch, Lead Naturalist

*  New Board Member

** Renewing Board Member                             

Officers

Past President  

Dari Christenson (2024-2025) NH Sea Grant & UNH Extension, Marine Education Program Manager

President                    

Cassie Stymiest (2024-2025) Educational Passages, Executive Director

President-Elect             

Michael Doherty (2024-2025) UNH, Aquaculture Specialist

Treasurer                       

Tara Hicks-Johnson (2024-2026) UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, Outreach Specialist

Secretary                      

Daryn Clevesy (2024-2026), Educational Passages, Program Coordinator

A humpback whale lifting its tail out of the ocean.

Whale Watch

Join us aboard the M/V Granite State on Friday, August 16 at 2:00 PM
Rye Harbor, NH

During this 4-5 hour trip, we might see a variety of species, including humpback, fin and minke whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, and large fish such as basking sharks or ocean sunfish. We also might spot a variety of seabird species.

This trip is $25 for GOMMEA members + their guests. Children ages 4-15 are $18.50, and under 4 are free. Seniors (60+) are $21.50
Not a member? Click here to become one

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED. See you at the next event!

NEOSEC Ocean Literacy Summit Nov. 15-17, 2023

Join GOMMEA for the ninth biennial New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC) Ocean Literacy Summit: Connecting Climate, Communities, and Coasts which will take place in Gloucester, MA, on November 15 – 17, 2023. We will address coastal issues in New England communities that arise from climate change and how the Ocean Literacy principles help us understand them. We are honored to be able to host the summit in Gloucester during its 400+ anniversary supporting their vision to inspire future generations to honor the past and work collectively to frame the future. The Summit will focus on connecting scientists, educators, and community leaders to critically think about equitable collaboration, share best practices, and provide networking opportunities.