Monica LeFlore designs and implements coastal and ocean management projects to develop policy solutions guided by science. She is committed to strengthening the science-policy nexus through interdisciplinary collaboration, inclusive processes, and strategic project management. Monica is motivated by the idea that a responsibly managed ocean and coast benefits everyone by providing resilient marine resources and equitable access to coastal spaces. Monica currently leads OST’s restoration working group in partnership with the Ocean Protection Council, the organization’s research collaboration on climate-adaptive fisheries management, and OST’s work on exploring the role of federal fishery disaster relief into the future. Beyond her current project portfolio, Monica is committed to supporting early career professionals and students in the ocean science and management space, and is dedicated to creating professional spaces for collaboration where participants feel welcome, seen, and valued.
Prior to joining the OST team in 2022, Monica worked on endangered species protection and conducted research on improving the probability that small-scale science will benefit conservation.
Monica holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management from University of California, Davis and a B.S. in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. She is based out of Monterey Bay.
