Email: cynthia.garcia@noaa.gov

Cynthia is a Program Manager for GOMO’s Arctic Research Program (ARP), specializing in sea ice observations and data management. She is also the coordinating editor of the NOAA Arctic Report Card. Cynthia was a 2022 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow with the ARP and has a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Her research focuses on understanding biogeochemical changes along marginal ice zones and coastal margins of our planet using satellite-derived measurements. Before starting her Ph.D., Cynthia worked as a Visiting Scientist at the Cryospheric Sciences Lab at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where she led and contributed to publications on remote sensing of sea surface salinity in polar waters.

Cynthia was born and raised in the Philippines and is passionate about mentoring and supporting other minoritized students in STEM. She also holds leadership positions in various professional organizations that help build supportive networks and alliances. Cynthia received her M.Eng. in Environmental Engineering from the Catholic University of Korea and her B.S. in Biology from the University of the Philippines. She enjoys practicing yoga, bouldering, and painting in her free time.