Cooperative science centers celebrate 25th anniversary of NOAA partnership

Faculty and fellows of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) joined NOAA officials, scientists, and members of three other cooperative science centers to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their partnerships with NOAA. The NOAA Educational Partnership Program (EPP) Jubilee, hosted by the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies, took place July 20-23, 2026, at The City College of the City University of New York. Students were able to present their research, receive one-on-one career counseling, and hear from alumni who have gone on to successful careers in the federal workforce, academia, and the private sector.

Several LMRCSC II fellows earned awards for their research presentations. Winners included:

• 🥇Dillon Doomstorm (First Place, Graduate Poster Presentation)
• 🥇Cali Roberts (First Place, Graduate Poster Presentation)
• 🥈Kayland Huckaby (Second Place, Graduate Oral Presentation)
• 🥈Rebecca Rivera (Second Place, Undergraduate Poster Presentation)
• 🥉Lalah Choice (Third Place, Graduate Oral Presentation)
• 🥉Ángel Colon-Zapata (Third Place, Undergraduate Poster Presentation)

During the panel Alumni Reflections, two LMRCSC alums who now hold positions at NOAA spoke about how their time as fellows continues to benefit their work today.

“I had this opportunity to really think outside of the box about my dissertation question, and having the freedom to do that was really helpful,” said NOAA Fisheries Biologist Dominique Lazarre, who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Miami in 2016. “That also led me down the road of learning a lot of different things about a lot of different subjects, which I continue to use in my day-to-day work.”

Lonnie Gonsalves, who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2012, is now the Stressor Detection and Impacts Division Chief at the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Program Office and Headquarters.

“It may not be apparent when you’re in the moment or in the action of doing your work, but someone also reminds you the level of impact that you can have at any level, whether it’s your studies or when you matriculate into the workforce. And I use that as a way of giving a shoutout to all of you who have been involved in the leadership of this program – faculty, mentors, advisors – because you’re having such an impact,” Gonsalves said.