AmeriCorps is a voluntary civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors engaging adults in public service work with a goal of “helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.” Mobile Baykeeper AmeriCorps Members make up three teams: Patrol (water quality monitoring, responding to citizen concerns), SWAMP (environmental education and monitor training), and Volunteer Engagement (organizing cleanups, recruiting volunteers for events). To get involved, check our careers page for opportunities.
AmeriCorps is an opportunity for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to give their time and talent to strengthen communities.
Born and raised in Mobile, Reagan ventured out to the small town of Troy, Alabama, to attend Troy University. She graduated in December 2022 with a B.A. in biology and a minor in German language and culture. She was always interested in marine conservation, but she didn’t know what she wanted to do with it until her year-long study abroad experience in Germany. It offered her something America didn’t: viewing the environment as an interdisciplinary subject to make it more accessible to herself and other people.
After a year in the AEE position at Mobile Baykeeper, she has moved to the AVE position to bring more volunteer opportunities to the general populace. A year working with students showed her just how much students and others need hands-on, in-field experience with the issues plaguing our waterways that volunteering can bring. In her free time, Reagan enjoys reading her growing collection of books, spending time with her friends and family, and drinking a little too much coffee.
Hailing from Schertz, Texas, Morgan moved to Mobile in 2020 to begin college at the University of South Alabama. Anticipating her upcoming graduation in the spring of 2024, she is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Marine Sciences, and a minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
While growing up, Morgan immersed herself in the outdoors, gaining an appreciation for ecosystems and biodiversity. This upbringing resulted in a strong passion for conserving Earth’s natural treasures and her dedication has only grown stronger through her completion of specialized coursework at USA and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. She recognized the ideal opportunity to make a difference within her community was as an AmeriCorps member with Mobile Baykeeper. In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports, listening to music, shopping, and finding the best places to eat.
From a very young age Nick was exposed to the beauty of nature, most notably on trips when his family traveled to Panama City or a national park. This planted the seed for his love for the environment, a love he came to realize in high school during a Marine Biology course.
Nick is currently enrolled at the University of South Alabama where he is pursuing his BS in Environmental Science with a plan to minor in Geography. Prior to that he attended Jefferson State Community College for two years. This past summer he worked as an intern with Cahaba Riverkeeper as a Field Tech, his first environmental gig and an incredibly valuable experience.
At the start of his academic and professional journey, Nick was working at a fast-food restaurant and thought that his dream of working in the environmental field might be a false hope. But he kept that fire at heart because he knew how relevant environmental work is to all of us. His goal is to work in the marine conservation field, perhaps working with whales.
A passionate explorer hailing from Newnan, Georgia, Josh is currently pursuing a degree in Ecosystem Ecology with a minor in Marine Science. At the age of 32, this adventurous spirit decided to make a transformative move to the serene landscapes of Baldwin County, where he now dedicates part of his week to an engineering firm. As a dedicated AmeriCorps member, Josh’s days are filled with oyster gardening, water testing, and invaluable research that supports the preservation of our coastal ecosystems.
Josh’s academic pursuits took him to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s NSF/REU program in the summer of 2023. There, he delved into the intricate world of hypoxia, water stratification, and bottom-boundary layer dynamics, expanding his knowledge and nurturing his passion for marine science. In his spare time, you can find him cheering on his favorite football team or watching supercross racing, showing that he knows how to balance work, study, and a bit of fun
Known locally as “Jenny the Mermaid,” Jennifer has lived in Mobile since the tender age of 1. She began her education in the Magnet Program which ignited a curiosity and eagerness for new learning experiences. Her education continued at Auburn University with a Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Education with a concentration in Rehabilitation Counseling.
Life on the coast and a passion for the water led to a gig as a lifeguard/swimming instructor with Mobile Parks & Recreation. Her goal is to educate as many people as possible about water safety, swimming and environmental stewardship. Her passion for community work opened the door to her becoming the Youth Coordinator with Ground Work Mobile County, where she guided the Green Team on clean-ups along the watersheds. Jennifer has an interdisciplinary background that fits perfectly in Environmental Education through the Americorp program with Mobile Baykeeper. Contributing to the health of the community and improving the waterways is a dream come true for this mermaid. You can find her networking and exploring Mobile as she loves connecting people to resources and recreation on the water.
Edmund grew up here on the coast in Fairhope. His appreciation for the ecosystem came from his time fishing and crabbing in the Bay as a kid and exploring the longleaf pine forests around Baldwin County. He graduated from the University of South Alabama with a bachelors in Geography and minor in GIS.
After school, he worked in Huntsville as a GIS Technician but decided to return to the coast that he calls home. Some of his hobbies include taking scenic walks, listening to music, and playing video games with friends. He wants to create a future with clean water so wildlife can thrive with fewer threats to their way of life and for people to enjoy our beautiful outdoors with no concerns for water pollution.
Abby was born and raised in Huntsville, surrounded by rivers, streams, waterfalls and mountains. She fell in love with the outdoors at a very young age, always playing in the closest creek and ponds by the homes she moved into with her sisters and hiking up the Monte Sano and Green Mountains. Science was always her favorite subject in school, and she knew from the start of her educational journey that STEM is something she wanted to pursue.
She started at the University of South Alabama as a Meteorology major, but changed her major to Geography with a minor in GIS, and fell in love with it. She got the opportunity to help perform research with her professor Dr. Schultze in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador to do microclimate research on San Cristobal Island. She got to swim with hundreds of sea turtles, sharks, and different tropical fish. Starting the 2023 fall semester at USA, she saw an open position for a field and research member at Mobile Baykeeper and jumped at the opportunity.
For fun, she loves to play guitar, crochet, listen to classic rock and grunge music, spend time with my friends and family, read books, and play Mario Kart on her Nintendo Switch.
Born in Tampa, Grey has spent his whole life in and around coastal environments, experiencing the rich and diverse life that blossoms within them. From his earliest memories of growing up in Florida, to his current residence in Mobile, Grey has always had a love of the Gulf Coast and its beauty. Growing up in a military household took him all across the globe, from America’s Mid-Atlantic region and Midwest to as far away as Okinawa, Japan, and New Zealand.
Through all the changes, Grey found his way back to the Gulf to finish high school and pursue a new future. Aside from his interests along the Gulf Coast, Grey prides himself on his fascination with history. From the ancient ways of life in the early stages of civilization, to the intricate tensions of the Cold War, he is always studying some period of history and can regale you with stories from times long ago.
Growing up in Mobile, Madi fell in love with the outdoors. With a penchant for getting her hands dirty and a soft spot for animals, she has spent much of her life volunteering with local animal shelters such as the Animal Rescue Foundation and Purrfect Partners of Mobile.
This path would continue into her adulthood. The summer following her graduation at Baker High School, Madi worked on her aunt’s farm and completed a welding course with Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT). Wanting to make a positive difference in the local ecosystem, rather than just its feline population, she made the decision to join the Oyster Patrol Team as an AmeriCorps member with Mobile Baykeeper at just 18 years old. In her spare time, she enjoys sculpting, thrifting, playing guitar, and finding fun events in the community to enjoy.
