Experience

Research Coordinator at the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, hybrid (5/2025 - present)

CW3E advances scientific understanding and prediction of extreme weather events, with a focus on atmospheric rivers, to support water resource management, flood mitigation, and climate resilience in the Western United States.

  • Develop reports, press releases, website content, visual assets, videos, and other communications materials to highlight scientific milestones, research impacts, and partnership activities for technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Manage publication tracking to increase visibility of scientific outputs and support dissemination of research findings.

  • Lead planning and execution of workshops, conferences, and events involving academic, government, and private-sector partners to support the center’s strategic outreach priorities.

  • Coordinate and project manage research-to-operations initiatives to facilitate the implementation of Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations at reservoirs across the US.

Program Director at PangeaSeed, remote (12/2022 - 8/2024)

PangeaSeed is an internationally engaged nonprofit that bridges art and science to increase ocean literacy and empathy

  • Facilitate collaboration between artists and scientists on ocean conservation-themed artwork

  • Co-develop new strategic vision, mission, and theory of change in collaboration with founders

  • Build partnerships with research institutions, nonprofits, and community organizations

  • Lead grant writing and collaboration with proposal partners

  • Program manager for Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans South Africa, executing 18 large-scale ocean conservation murals in conjunction with community outreach events and internal programming for team

Program Associate at Biodiversity Funders Group, remote (1/2021 - 11/2022)

The Biodiversity Funders Group is a philanthropy-serving organization that supports education and collaboration for environmental grantmakers focused on policy, climate change, environmental justice, and indigenous-led conservation

  • Provide administrative and operational support to the Marine Conservation Program and the Land and Freshwater Conservation Program

  • Assist planning and execution of virtual and in-person program meetings with 40-80 participants, managing all Zoom and other virtual platform logistics

  • Organize, convene, and facilitate conference calls with program chairs and planning committees

  • Prepare marketing materials such as newsletters, event invitations, online schedules, and program descriptions

Senior Project Manager at Intertidal Agency, remote (9/2021 - 9/2022)

Intertidal Agency is a nonprofit data design consultancy dedicated to making ocean data open and accessible

Operations Director at Intertidal Strategies, remote (9/2020 - 9/2021)

Intertidal Strategies is the for-profit arm of Intertidal Agency, a data design consultancy dedicated to making ocean data open and accessible

  • Manage portfolio of environmental data design and strategy projects

  • Assist in meeting design, materials development, and create visual aids to translate research findings

  • Maintain and refresh website

  • Collaborate with Founder on grant writing

  • Develop and nurture organizational culture of empathy, flexibility, and trust through collaborative team building

Program Manager for Research Partnerships at the Global Resilience Institute, Boston, Massachusetts (1/2018 – 7/2019)

Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute is an interdisciplinary resilience research hub ‍ ‍

  • Facilitate the growth of the Global Resilience Research Network (GRRN), a network of international research institutions; network growth from 2 to 27 partners

  • Build and maintain a research database capturing the work of over 300 researchers

  • Organize, accelerate, and manage research groups and research content within the GRRN from conception to completion working directly with primary investigators

  • Write grant proposals and manage proposal process for NSF, USAID, and various foundation RFPs

  • Develop content and oversee design and dissemination of website, newsletter, blog, and report communications

  • Manage dedicated student research assistant and internal collaboration across departments

Fellow & Research Assistant at the Global Resilience Institute, Boston, Massachusetts (6/2017 – 12/2017)

Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute is an interdisciplinary resilience research hub

  • Assist Coastal Resilience Measurement research project in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and grant funding from Northeastern’s Global Resilience Institute

  • Code project documents using NVivo, qualitative analysis tool, for major themes

  • Translate Nvivo data into quantitative measures and visualize using Tableau software

  • Research, write, and present peer reviewed and published report on global coastal adaptation activities in Least Developed Nations

Executive Assistant & Bookkeeper at ArtSmart Inc., Los Angeles, California (9/2012 – 7/2016)

ArtSmart Inc. is a financial consultancy for artist studios, galleries, and creative businesses

  • Provide essential day to day administrative support such as scheduling, coordinating travel, maintaining secure database of sensitive client information for Amy Davila, art business consultant

  • Liaise between executive and artist and gallery clients through email and phone communications and train clients on proprietary ArtSmart online database

  • Manage a team of two assistant bookkeepers and two interns

  • In charge of client billing, accounts receivable and payable, and company books using Quickbooks Online

  • Problem solve under deadlines with independence and resourcefulness

Education

Master of Science, Marine Biology from Northeastern University

Bachelor of Arts, Fine Art; Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies from Pitzer College

Publications

Laura Kuhl, Kyla Van Maanen, Steven Scyphers. “An Analysis of UNFCCC-Financed Coastal Adaptation Projects: Assessing Patterns of Project Design and Contributions of Adaptive Capacity.” World Development, 21 Nov. 2019, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X19303973?via%3Dihub

Kyla Van Maanen. “The Effects of Ocean Acidification and Warming on Corals and Other Calcifying Organisms.” J. Emil Morhardt (ed.) Global Climate Change and Natural Resources: Summaries of the 2008–2009 Scientific Literature. Claremont, C.A., Roberts Environmental Press. June 15, 2009.

Tools & Applications

  • Project Management: Asana, Trello, Monday.com

  • Design & Content: PhotoShop, Illustrator, Figma, Canva

  • Research & Data Visualization: NVivo, Tableau

  • Communications: MailChimp, Hootsuite, WordPress, Squarespace

  • ·Proficient in Mac OS, Microsoft Office Suite, Google SuiteCertifications / Memberships

  • American Academy of Underwater Sciences SCUBA certification

  • UC California Naturalist Certification (in progress, Spring ‘25 Cohort)

  • Member of the Society for Women in Marine Science

Certifications & Memberships

  • UC California Certified Naturalist

  • American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) SCUBA Certification

  • Member of the Society for Women in Marine Science