Meet David Riera: Environmental Scientist, Educator, Advocate, and the Oceans Advisory Committee Member for the Hispanic Access Foundation | Sea Change

February 9, 2022

An inspiring conversation about service to the community.

This episode of the Sea Change Podcast is going to leave you wanting more! So much so that Jenna and her guest, David Riera, are planning on convening for a part two of this discussion because they feel that there is so much more for them to chat about. 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.