David Riera: The Sequel is Just as Good if Not Better | Sea Change

March 10, 2022

Part 2 with the great David Riera

Last month's Sea Change Podcast listeners will recognize David Riera as a familiar voice and inspiring advocate. David joined Jenna during her February episode and the two had so much to talk about that they thought it would be best to split the conversation into two parts. We are pleased to bring you the second part of that discussion! David is a United States Marine Combat Veteran and First Generation Afro-Hispanic college graduate who is driven daily to tackle various social and environmental issues. Additionally, he is an environmental scientist, educator, advocate, a McKnight Doctoral Fellow at Florida International University, and an Oceans Advisory Committee Member for the Hispanic Access Foundation. David is the embodiment of the adage, "don't talk about it, be about it." and energizes us to keep pushing forward for a healthy ocean and healthy communities.



Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Jenna Valente

A passion for conservation and appreciation for the natural world was engrained in Jenna at a young age. Her father was in the Coast Guard. This meant she always had the fortune of living near the ocean, including Hawaii, Washington State, and Maine. Both of her parents encouraged her to spend the majority of her time outside. As a result, she finds that she is most comfortable barefoot and exploring the coast, countryside, or mountains. Her favorite thing about the ocean is the sheer power of it all. Jenna joined the American Littoral Society as the Healthy Oceans Coalition Coordinator from the Chesapeake Research Consortium where she was a member of the communications staff and focused on building the brand of the program and ensure the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Jenna completed her Executive Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2015 and also has her Bachelors in Communication and Journalism from the University of Maine.