Jessica Clemens

As a Hershman Fellow at Puget Sound Institute, Jessica Clemens is researching how metabolomics can be used to better understand the impacts of anthropogenic contaminants on aquatic organisms. Her project focuses on data from long-term studies on shellfish in Puget Sound. Areas of interest include how reproduction is altered by the presence of contaminants, with a focus on population dynamics. The goal of this project is to develop a better understanding of the impacts of contaminants to help inform policy and management decisions.
Jessica’s fascination with marine ecosystems began like many, with a childhood dream of becoming a marine biologist. After a degree in biological anthropology, and a career detour through the outdoor industry, Jessica realized her true passion still lay in marine ecology. This epiphany guided her to the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA), where she recently completed her Master’s degree. Her thesis work integrates environmental justice principles into kelp restoration in Puget Sound, focusing on incorporating cultural and social values into restoration siting decisions. Outside of work, you can find Jessica hiking with her two pups, gardening, and experimenting with new recipes.
Allison Morgan

Allison Morgan is engaged in interdisciplinary research focused on the human dimensions of marine and coastal ecosystems. Her current fellowship projects include exploring how to communicate shoreline armoring tradeoffs and sea level rise with constituents and incorporating human dimensions into the Puget Sound Partnership’s marine vegetation implementation strategy. Through this work, she bridges ecological science and community-centered policy development, contributing to adaptive strategies that support both environmental resilience and equitable decision-making in the face of climate change.
Allison holds a master’s degree in Marine and Environmental Affairs from the University of Washington and a B.A. in environmental studies and society, ethics, and human behavior from UW Bothell. In her undergraduate studies, Allison contributed to research published in the Journal of Community Psychology on the effects of antiracism activism in interpersonal relationships. This work allowed her to delve deeper into the psychology and sociological theories of human behavior. During her master’s program, Allison completed a thesis on managing the impacts of fast ferries on southern resident killer whales. She lives on Whidbey Island with her husband and two daughters.