Kayle Krieg, a marine, estuarine and environmental sciences doctoral student at UMES, was awarded a competitive Maryland Sea Grant State Science Policy Fellowship. Since September, she has been working directly with Dr. Peter Goodwin, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences in Cambridge, and traveling frequently to Annapolis and the University of Maryland College Park for meetings and training sessions.
“It’s a new fellowship designed to provide experience working with state agencies at the science policy interface,” Krieg said. “I’m working with the Office of the Vice President for Sustainability in the University System of Maryland in part by supporting the Science and Technical Working Group of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. In addition, I will be collaborating with USM institutions in the best ways to share knowledge and progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions with a goal of net zero by 2045.”
Dr. Fredrika Moser, director of the Maryland Sea Grant College Program with the USM, describes the program as “an excellent opportunity to train advanced science graduate students in science and policy while working in high level positions in Maryland state agencies.”
Krieg is among three fellows as part of a second cohort. One of the fellows is serving in policy and law, while another, like herself, is in state science policy. She attributes her educational background and outreach experience as having helped her qualify for the position. Krieg was active in the Advancing Indigenous People in STEM, Society for Women in Marine Science and the American Fisheries Society.
Born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Krieg is Anishinaabe from the White Earth reservation, part of the Minnesota Ojibwe. She was raised in Tucson, Arizona and earned a bachelor’s in environmental science and a master’s in natural resources from the University of Arizona. Krieg has what she describes as “broad career goals,” but hopes the fellowship may shed some light on which direction she will take. Her advice to peers: “network as much as you can and expand your network circle to include those outside of your specific industry. You never know where opportunities may present themselves.”
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu.
Photos submitted.
