The Knauss Fellowship Journey: Caitlin Manley and Jessica Eason's Path to Policy Impact

May 21, 2023

Manley and Eason: Two women shaping marine policy.

In the latest episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, co-hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by two hot shot guests: Caitlin Manley, a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the Branch of Coastal and Marine Resources at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Jessica Eason, the Congressional Affairs Knauss Fellow at the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Caitlin shares her educational background and experiences as a Knauss Fellow, discussing her work at the USFWS and highlighting exciting projects. Meanwhile, Jessica sheds light on her journey as a Congressional Affairs Knauss Fellow. Together, they provide valuable insights into the Knauss Fellowship program and offer advice for aspiring fellows. The episode also explores recommended resources for those interested in marine policy and the Knauss Fellowship.

Show Transcription
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Peter Ravella & Tyler Buckingham

Peter and Tyler joined forces in 2015 and from the first meeting began discussing a project that would become Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network. At the time, Peter and Tyler were coastal consultants for Pete’s firm, PAR Consulting, LLC. In that role, they worked with coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, engaged in grant writing, coastal project development, shoreline erosion and land use planning, permitting, and financial planning for communities undertaking big beach restoration projects. Between and among their consulting tasks, they kept talking and kept building the idea of CNT & ASPN. In almost every arena they worked, public engagement played a central role. They spent thousands of hours talking with coastal stakeholders, like business owners, hotel operators, condo managers, watermen, property owners, enviros, surfers, and fishermen. They dived deep into the value, meaning, and responsibility for the American shoreline, segment-by-segment. Common threads emerged, themes were revealed, differences uncovered. There was a big conversation going on along the American shoreline! But, no place to have it. That's where CNT and ASPN were born.