Rachel Fontana, Ph.D.

Rachel received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science/Biology from University of Miami, Florida. After a few years providing outdoor education to grades 5 to 12, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in Ecology from University of California, Davis in 2013. Her dissertation research focused on biological oceanography in a dynamic upwelling region off the coast of northern California. Rachel began her NOAA career as a Sea Grant Knauss 2013 Fellow working on legislative affairs for NOAA Research. Since 2013, she has continued her career at NOAA and held a variety of long-term positions, as well as short-term details in NOAA headquarters, NOAA Research, and NOAA Satellites. Rachel’s NOAA career has focused on legislative affairs, policy, communications and budget formulation. Rachel is also part of the current cohort of NOAA's Leadership Competencies Development Program.