About Us

Hello! My name is Emily Stauder, and I am currently a junior at Millersville University studying Ocean Sciences and Coastal Studies. I am the leader of this undergraduate shark research project, and I'm also the treasurer of the Ocean Science Club at Millersville University, where we do many things on and off campus to help create a better environment for students and marine life. My love of sharks began at a very young age, and it grew while watching shark week on the discovery channel.  After I complete my undergraduate degree, I plan on attending graduate school to pursue a degree in marine mammal conservation, with a focus on sharks. My minor in Government and Political Affairs allows for opportunities to make a change in the shark conservation realm, even if I end up away from the ocean. In my free time, I enjoy spending time at the beach, swimming with sharks, and hanging out with friends.  Protect the Locals!

Hello,

My name is Somer Barrett I am a Junior here at Millersville University. My major is Environmental Earth and Ocean Sciences, I am very passionate about preservation and restoration. My love for the environment started at a young age and it has encouraged me to get my Advanced Rescue Diver Scuba Certification, along with my lifeguard certification, first aid AED an CPR. I am the Vice President of the Millersville Ocean Sciences club and was the treasurer prior. This summer I have been given the amazing opportunity of traveling to Honduras to study coral reef ecology at the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences.  I want to make a change in the world someday, for something greater than myself. This year I am a part of an independent shark research study that our lovely leader Emily Stauder is conducting. I met her through my major, and mutual classes and she asked me to be a part of her team. In this study we are focusing on the effects of fishing down the food chain on shark populations in Chincoteague Bay Virginia. I am very excited to be on a team of amazing, motivated, and caring people that have believe in activism for our environment. Emily believed in me and saw what I could bring to the table to make her project even more astonishing. I will be interning down at the Chincoteague Bay filed station this year with my teammate Emily Stauder. Together we will continue our research on this project and future projects ahead. I am so grateful for this opportunity to partake in such important research, and I cannot wait to continue the journey.

 Hello everyone! My name is Zachary Aaron Hersh, and I am currently a junior at Millersville University studying Ocean Science and Coastal Studies with a focus on Biology. I am also quite active on campus as a member of Phi Delta Theta where I have done Philanthropy Chairman and am currently Historian Chairman. I am also a part of the Millersville Ocean Science Club where we will also do many things on and off campus to help create a better environment for students and marine life. I am originally from Goldsboro Pennsylvania and I was born in Harrisburg. After college, I plan on going into the United States Coast Guard focusing on Marine Science Technician (MST.) My entire life I have been fascinated by the creatures that reside below the surface of the water.  My favorite marine creature would have to be the sea turtle. I am also fascinated by sharks due to my uncle who has been mesmerized by them his entire life and has also told everyone in my family about an upcoming shark week. My favorite shark would have to be the Leopard shark due to the unique patterns upon them. In my recreational time, I enjoy boating, kayaking, and swimming, so basically, anywhere I can be in the water I am there. 

Hello everyone! My name is Kandice Liebl and I'm a double major pursuing a B.S in both Environmental Earth & Ocean Sciences and Business Administration, with a concentration in International Business. I will be graduating in 2023, pursuing geoscience as I start my position as a geotechnical technician post-graduation. I began to pursue my business degree in 2019, but later took the leap to pursue a passion in sciences with aspiration to create a positive change. 

“Choosing to believe in myself and my abilities have been key to my successes. I was able to build this confidence from professors at Millersville University that believed in me. They helped carve the path I never thought my feet would land on!”

My role in this project has been to assist Emily Stauder in writing research findings, communicating with the public, and seeking resources that could help provide data.

  Hello, My name is Kayla Farkas, I am a sophomore here at Millersville University. I am majoring in Marine Biology with a concentration in Science Writing. I am part of the Ocean Science Club and I snorkel/ free dive and surf. I have loved the ocean ever since I was a young girl. From taking trips to islands and snorkeling on reefs, it has inspired me and engraved a deep passion within me for the marine life and seas and their protection. After college I hope to go to Medical School at Ross University to become a marine veterinarian to help all species of marine life such as sharks and octopi and dolphins and other species. I am so grateful to have been offered part in this amazing Shark research project by Emily. This has really opened up a new field of view for me and has made me become even more passionate about saving sharks and marine life after seeing what our fellow humans have down to them over the years. I can’t wait to see what our team does for these beautiful creatures next. My favorite sharks are the black and white tipped reef sharks as well as the tiger and whale sharks. I really want to continue helping and educating people on sharks and marine life species that are already endangered or becoming so. I am excited to continue researching these beautiful creatures and helping them as much as I can.