Betsy is founder and executive director of PSRF. She is also President of the Pacific Shellfish Institute. Betsy served on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification and collaborated with NOAA to establish the Kenneth K Chew Center for Shellfish Research and Restoration that PSRF operates to help restore native shellfish and living marine resources. Betsy has a degree in English from Stanford University and a lifelong interest in the marine world.
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As Deputy Director, Jodie advances our science, expands partnerships, and builds support for our unique brand of in-water restoration. Prior to PSRF, Jodie worked at The Nature Conservancy and The Natural Capital Project. She received her PhD in Aquatic & Fishery Sciences from the University of Washington. Her 2 kids keep her and her husband on their toes, exploring the wonders of the world, both great and small.
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206.795.6378
Brian, one of PSRF’s in-house ecologists, is interested in all things marine – both as a scientist and a forager. Brian completed a BS in 1996 at the Huxley College for Environmental Studies at Western Washington University where he studied marine ecology. Before joining the PSRF, Brian’s work concerned applied science or commercial fisheries.
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Josh joined PSRF in 2011 and directs pinto abalone hatchery cultivation, research and field programs aimed at recovery of this unique but severely threatened mollusk. Josh earned an MS in Aquatic & Fishery Sciences from the University of Washington. Josh enjoys diving, eating seafood, mountain biking and spending time with family.
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As Director of PSRF’s hatchery at NOAA’s Manchester Research Stations, Ryan guides hatchery-based research and restoration for Olympia oyster, pinto abalone, cockles, sea cucumbers and other species. After growing up in the highland deserts of North Central Washington, Ryan became fascinated by the marine environment at Western Washington University. He received an MS in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. Ryan also worked as a research assistant at Dauphin Island Sea Lab and taught courses in marine ecology at Northwest Indian College.
Hilary is an unceasing fanatic of coasts and tidelands. She joined the PSRF team in 2020 to develop and implement strategic, science-based plans for Olympia oyster and bull kelp habitat restoration. She has long explored the ecology of marine organisms living in dynamic nearshore systems, working with such organizations as Friday Harbor Labs and the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans. Hilary holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Washington. She makes a fierce cup of coffee.
Morgan Adkisson joined PSRF in 2017 as part of the pinto abalone recovery project, where she performs day-to-day care and husbandry of the abalone. She received a degree in Marine Biology at the University of Oregon, where she spent much of her time in Coos Bay, OR at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. In her free time she kayaks around the Sound, hikes through the mountains, and drinking lots of local beer.
Sarah joined PSRF in 2018, where she provides financial management and manages the website. Sarah earned a degree from University of Oregon in Journalism. In her spare time, Sarah loves to watch Seahawks games, read true crime and play tennis.
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Emily joined PSRF in 2021 to add her many talents to a variety of crab and seaweed projects. One of her core roles is as program coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group, a large multi-stakeholder network working to develop collaborative research projects that will increase our understanding of Dungeness crab and inform the management of this important fishery. Emily has a degree in biology from Carleton College and worked as an environmental educator and field technician for several years before receiving a master’s in Marine and Environmental Affairs from the University of Washington, where she built skills in community-led ecological monitoring and the application of science to management.
Rachel received her undergraduate degree in Holistic Food Science from Western Washington University and thereafter completed a certificate of Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at Bellingham Technical College. She spent several years as the Assistant Manager of a non-profit farm where she managed an aquaponics pilot program and has since been in several natural resource and restoration positions before joining PSRF. Rachel is passionate about skiing, outdoor adventuring, gardening, good food, and fermentation!
Jay is working as a postdoctoral scholar with PSRF, focusing on conservation genetics of pinto abalone and basket cockles. A marine biologist with over 15 years of experience on both coasts, he just completed a PhD at the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. As a youngster, Jay got hooked on the marine realm after seeing his first giant ribbon worm while clamming with his family.
An oyster farmer turned designer, Hannah believes design has profound agency in connecting people to environmental resources, fostering stewardship, and increasing social and cultural resilience. At PSRF, Hannah supports kelp restoration through visual communication and engagement initiatives, outreach and programming. Hannah has worked in New York City as a designer on landscape-scale urban design and coastal resiliency projects, holds a Master in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning (U of Pennsylvania), and a BA in Art and Visual Culture (Bates College). Delighted to be back in the Pacific Northwest, Hannah can be found on or in the water, or skiing – depending on the season.
As PSRF’s Lead Hatchery Technician, Sarah leads production of microalgae (her speciality), and co-leads production of Olympia oysters and operations at the hatchery with Ryan Crim. She earned her degree in Environmental Science from Western Washington University in 2010. While pursuing her degree, Sarah studied abroad in New Zealand to study environmental policy. In her free time she loves being outside with her two dogs, skiing and whitewater rafting.
Gray joined PSRF in 2020 and is the program coordinator for the Olympia oyster and bull kelp habitat restoration programs. They graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Marine Biology, where their research focused on intertidal ecology in the Gulf of Maine. Gray has spent several years working on tall ships and other vessels as a sailor, SCUBA diver, marine scientist, and educator. In their free time, Gray plays the banjo and makes linoleum block prints inspired by Puget Sound ecology.
Caitlin’s main goal is to expand and optimize production of the charismatic marine snail, the pinto abalone, for restoration in the San Juan Archipelago, WA. Caitlin has been working with, and alongside, the Pinto Abalone Recovery Project since 2015. Originally from California, Caitlin has a BS in Marine Biology (University of California, Santa Cruz), and an MS in Biology from Western Washington University’s Marine and Estuarine Science Program. Caitlin’s hobbies include running an elaborate fertility clinic for pinto abalone in hopes of saving the species from the brink of extirpation in Washington, and also reading a good book.
Matilda “Tillie” Smith arrived at PSRF in 2021 as our first Veterans Conservation Corps intern. Smith is a US Air Force veteran, who lived abroad for the majority of her 6-year enlistment. In 2016, she said goodbye to the Swiss Alps, and seeking a similar terrain, set her sights on Washington. Tillie’s environmental passions led her to an Environmental Studies degree from the University of Washington Tacoma, and two distinct internships in prairie restoration with the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sustainability program, and the Center for Natural Land Management at Violet Prairie. Tillie is now excited to be more deeply involved in the marine environment and helping communities that depend on the sea.
Wendy Welch brings over 20 years of fundraising and development experience to PSRF. A Bainbridge Island resident and Northwest native, Wendy holds business and marketing degrees from the University of Washington. She is an avid skier, hiker and general outdoor enthusiast.
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206.780.6947
Joth Davis is an integral member of the PSRF project team serving as Science Advisor on native oyster enhancement efforts, kelp cultivation, pinto abalone restoration and more. Joth wears many hats, as the founder/CEO/principal (or some combination of all) for Hood Canal Mariculture, Baywater Shellfish, and Pacific Hybreed. He is an Affiliate Asst. Professor at UW and formerly directed Research & Development for Taylor Shellfish Hatchery. Joth holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries from UW and a M.E.S. in Environmental Studies from Yale University.
Our annual 2019 Staff Harvest Party left no bellies unfilled. The team fanned out and gathered Olympia and Pacific oysters, mussels, Manila clams, bull and sugar kelp, fucus (seaweed), chanterelle, puffball and lobster mushrooms, coho salmon and apples. We transformed these and other homemade items into a feast of grand measure with: oysters on the half shell (Olympias, Pacifics), Devils on horseback (with Pacific oysters), seaweed butter on homemade bread, fucus crunchies with nutritional yeast sprinkles, smoked sockeye salmon on crackers, chanterelles on crostini, sautéed chanterelles, miso soup with sugar kelp daishi, clam and salmon chowder, Thai curry mussels, grilled oysters, apple crisp, and brownies. The finest of drinks were imbibed: homebrewed Manny’s kelpish ale, Rogue kelp warrior ale, ume plum liqueur, peach shrub and bourbon cocktails and hard cider. What could 2020 possibly bring?