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PA Sea Grant Names PA 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellows: Nathaniel Edelheit-Rice, Sahara Rios-Bonilla, Chelsea Russ

On November 8, Pennsylvania Sea Grant recently announced three Pennsylvania early-career professionals-- Nathaniel Edelheit-Rice, Sahara Rios-Bonilla, and Chelsea Russ-- have been selected into the 2025 class of the Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program.

The one-year, paid fellowship is made possible by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Sea Grant College Program.

Fellows were selected through a competitive process that involved review panels composed of national experts in marine science, policy, and education.

The fellows will spend one year working in federal agencies or legislative offices in Washington, D.C., applying their academic expertise to critical marine, coastal and Great Lakes policy issues.

“The Knauss Fellowship is an opportunity that launches careers,” said Dr. Sean Rafferty, Research Director for Pennsylvania Sea Grant. “We congratulate Nathaniel, Sahara, and Chelsea and look forward to supporting them throughout the fellowship and beyond.”

PA Sea Grant Fellows

-- Nathaniel Edelheit-Rice will be placed with NOAA Headquarters within the Environmental Review and Coordination Section, NOAA Office of General Counsel.

Nathaniel is a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a Master of Environmental Studies degree and a Juris Doctorate degree concurrently.

Nathaniel says, “I have always been incredibly passionate about marine conservation and the interface of science and law in making positive change for our oceans. I’m excited to join the Environmental Review and Coordination section of NOAA’s Office of General Counsel, the first time NOAA’s OGC has placed a Knauss Fellow. Working at OGC will be an incredible opportunity to further work with both science and law for the betterment of our oceans.”

-- Sahara Rios-Bonilla will be working at NOAA Oceanica and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.

Sahara is a laboratory technician at Villanova University, in the department of geography and environment.

Sahara says, “I’m excited to join NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration as the Deep Sea Sample Strategy Fellow, where I will have the honor of contributing to NOAA’s legacy of optimizing deep-sea sampling efforts to make them as effective and knowledge rich as possible. I look forward to helping communicate our discoveries and gaining invaluable skills. This is a voyage that will enrich my life in all aspects as I sail toward a greater appreciation and conservation of our planet’s deepest mysteries.”

-- Chelsea Russ will be working with the Department of the Navy, Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy.

Chelsea is a recent graduate of Penn State University, with a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture.

Chelsea says, “I’ve been placed with the Department of the Navy, in the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy, as their International and Interagency Ocean Policy Liaison. I’m looking forward to combining knowledge I’ve gained through 13 years of service in the Navy and 6 years in school to serve the US and the world. I’m excited to get a high-level view of ocean policy development, work with Congress, and understand how federal agencies coordinate to reach optimal solutions.”

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Background On Program

Since 1979, the Knauss Fellowship has provided graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience developing and implementing national policy, focusing on building sustainable futures and promoting resilient ecosystems.

The 2025 fellows represent 70 universities across the country—including 10 minority serving institutions—comprising 44 master’s students, 41 Ph.D. candidates and 3 J.D. candidates.

They represent communities across the nation and are committed to making meaningful contributions to marine policy.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Pennsylvania Sea Grant encourages the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach, and technology transfer.

(Photos: Chelsea Russ, Sahara Rios-Bonilla and Nathaniel Edelheit-Rice.)

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