Email: heather.heenehan@noaa.gov 
Phone: (202) 656-0562

Heather Heenehan joined GOMO in August 2024 as the inaugural Education and Outreach Specialist. She is looking forward to helping to advance and improve GOMO’s education, outreach, and capacity building projects and their impact.

Heather comes to GOMO with a diverse background and a wide range of experiences in marine science, education, and outreach. She received her Ph.D. in Marine Science and Conservation and Master of Environmental Management degrees from Duke University and her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Connecticut. She completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Sofie Van Parijs, the Chief of the Passive Acoustics Branch of NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA. Heather is a university educator and former K-12 educator having taught formally for seven years (and counting). Most recently she served as an outreach coordinator working to build support and partnerships for offshore wind projects in New England.

Even when her roles focused on scientific research, like in graduate school or during her postdoctoral training, Heather always spent time doing education and outreach work since it was where she drew a lot of inspiration, joy, and energy. She has taught “preK to gray” audiences on ships, in salt marshes, on beaches, in gardens, and in traditional classrooms. She is looking forward to bringing her joy for teaching and outreach to help share GOMO’s story!