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Scyphers Lab at the University of South Alabama
Steven Scyphers
Full Professor and Chief Sustainability Officer
Steven is an Associate Professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Steven’s research integrates ecology and sociology to understand and develop strategies to overcome major challenges facing coastal communities. His work focuses on sustainable coastal fisheries, shoreline development, ecosystem restoration, and climate resiliency. He received his BS in Marine Biology at Auburn University and his PhD in Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. He was awarded a Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) Fellowship from the National Science Foundation.
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Meet The Team
Manager - Sustainability Program
Abby Collins
Abby Collins graduated from Bowling Green State University, where she received her BS in Biology with a specialization in Marine and Aquatic Sciences. She is currently pursuing her MS in Marine Conservation and Natural Resource Management at the University of South Alabama. She is excited to gain more experience in the field of marine conservation and hopes to start her own marine conservation nonprofit organization. If Abby were a marine organism, she would be a green sea turtle!
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PhD Student
Grace Stringer
Grace (she/her) graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in Spring of 2023, where she got her BS in Ecology and Evolution and a certificate in Sustainability. She then moved to Alabama to work at Dauphin Island Sea Lab in the Baker Lab. There, she worked on projects related to the nursery estuarine habitats and living shorelines. Grace is interested in coastal utility and science communication with coastal communities and policymakers. If Grace were a marine organism, she would be a puffer fish!
PhD Student
Sophia Corde
Sophia studies human-wildlife interaction mitigation and conservation practices. Her dissertation research focuses on manatee distributions, human-manatee interactions, and the use of citizen science for conservation in the northern Gulf of America. Sophia received her BS in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami and her MS in Biology from Western Kentucky University. Sophia is co-advised by Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael. If Sophia were a marine organism, she would be a harbor seal!
PhD Student
Sarah Wraight
Sarah is a sociologist and GIS analyst interested in studying the meaning-making processes individuals and groups engage in surrounding built and natural environments, and the shapes these negotiations take when there is a shock to the social-ecological system. She is also interested in analyzing the relationships between (1) the misleading ideology behind the nature-nurture dichotomy, and (2) governmental actions that regard the environment. Sarah received her MA in sociology and her BA in anthropology with a minor in geology, both from the University of South Alabama. If Sarah were a marine organism, she would be a Godzilla marine iguana!
PhD Student
Casi (KC) Callaway
Casi is interested in building resilience and sustainability into systems by uniting people, organizations, businesses, and local governments to help everyone thrive amid a changing world. If Casi were a marine organism, she would be an alligator!
PhD Student
Lance Slater
Lance is a Director of Resilience and Sustainability for Mobile County Public Works and is pursuing a PhD in resilience infrastructure and buy-in. His goal in his career is to be in the state senate and expand his role in resilience. If Lance were a marine organism, he would be a loggerhead sea turtle!
Research Technician
Deanna Palermo
Deanna graduated from Birmingham Southern College and received her BS in Environmental Science. She is at the University of South Alabama, where she is working towards her MS in Marine Conservation and Natural Resource Management. Her work focuses on marine fisheries and sustainability. She is excited to gain a wide variety of experiences in the Scyphers Lab. If Deanna were a marine organism, she would be a sea otter!
Intern
Rachel Ryan
Rachel Ryan earned her BS in Zoology with a minor in Human-Animal Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she developed her love of learning about nature, wildlife, and the ways humans interact with their environment. She is currently pursuing her MS in Marine Conservation and Resource Management at the University of South Alabama and is excited to deepen her knowledge in marine conservation. Rachel is also looking forward to gaining research experience in environmental sustainability through the Scyphers Lab, which will help support her career goal of protecting and restoring natural ecosystems. If Rachel were a marine organism, she would be a seahorse!
Intern
Meg Custard
Meg Custard is a senior undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science with a concentration in Sustainability at the University of South Alabama. Growing up, she spent a lot of time outdoors, which strongly influenced her interest in this field, along with her love of animals. She is currently assisting the lab with survey collections for fishing efforts. She hopes to develop her research skills and learn more about the field of social science. If she were a marine animal, she would be a Sunflower sea star!
Gulf Scholars Coordinator
Mary Everret Toombs
Mary Everett Toombs is a graduate of the University of St. Andrews, where she obtained a Neuroscience BSc (Honours). She aids in various ongoing sustainability projects while contributing health‑related viewpoints to the lab’s work. Mary Everett has a strong interest in pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience and ultimately working in clinical research. Her sustainability internship provides a fresh perspective on health connections, allowing her to continue her education with a well‑rounded approach. She completed her dissertation on inhibitory interneurons in the mPFC in a mouse model of FTD. If Mary Everett were a marine organism, she would be a mantis shrimp!
Intern
Anna Ley
Anna graduated from Bowling Green State University with a BS in Biology and a specialization in Marine and Aquatic Sciences. She is currently in her second year at the University of South Alabama, where she is pursuing her MS in Marine Conservation and Resource Management. Anna is originally from Cincinnati but has enjoyed living on the Gulf Coast because she loves warm weather and spending time at the beach. She is excited to further pursue her interest in environmental sociology as part of the Scyphers Lab. If she were a marine organism, she would be a thresher shark!
Intern/Sustainability @ South
Sarah Kennedy
Sarah Kennedy earned her B.S. in Environmental Biology from Alcorn State University in Mississippi. Originally from Canada, Sarah developed a passion for the ocean and marine wildlife, inspired by nature documentaries she watched growing up. Her experience living in a cold climate also motivated her to pursue her studies in the warmth of the southern United States. Currently, Sarah is a Graduate Fellow entering her second year of her M.S. in Marine Conservation and Resource Management at the University of South Alabama. She is eager to gain additional research experience in environmental sustainability through the Scyphers Lab, particularly exploring how sustainability can be integrated with sports. If Sarah were a marine organism, she would be a Leopard Shark!
Student Assistant/Sustainability @ South
Gracie Chouinard
Gracie is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama. She is majoring in Marine Sciences and Biology and is interested in pursuing environmental sustainability. Her parents are Wildlife Biologists, which sparked her interest in the marine sciences. As a second-year undergraduate, Gracie is excited to learn and gain experience in research through the Scyphers Lab. If Gracie were a marine organism, she would be a stingray!
Student Assistant/Sustainability @ South
Callie Conkle
Callie is a first-year undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama. She is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Sciences. Growing up in Houston, she welcomed every trip to the Gulf with excitement and curiosity, growing her love for nature and sustainability! She is excited to learn more and strengthen her research skills through the Scyphers Lab. If Callie were a marine organism, she would be a blue shark!
Student Assistant
Brendan Farmer
Brendan is a junior Environmental and Sustainability Sciences Major pursuing a concentration in Sustainability. He enjoys all things outdoors and especially loves hiking. He is excited to learn and grow in his understanding of sustainability in the Gulf while in Scyphers' Lab. If he were a sea creature, he would be a sailfish!
Student Assistant
Mak Woods
Mak is a junior at the University of South Alabama, where she is majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Computer Science. Outside of her studies, she enjoys needlepointing and reading. She is excited to explore sides of research that she has never worked in before and to gain new experiences in the lab. If Mak were a sea animal, she would be a beluga whale!
Student Assistant
Mary Garrett
Mary is a third-year undergraduate student studying Marine Science and Sustainability at South Alabama. She's always had a passion for species conservation and hopes to grow her knowledge in the Scyphers lab with sustainability. She rescued two semi-aquatic turtles, kept them, and deepened her interest. She wants to pursue a field in marine sea turtle conservation. If she could be a marine organism, she would be a Kemp's ridley sea turtle!
Intern
Anthoni Price
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Lab Mascots
Winnie Collins
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Nora Palermo
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Drum Stringer
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Enzo Gibbs
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Andy Scyphers
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Eleanor Scyphers
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