Ridge to Reef (R2R):
Processes and Interdependent 
Drivers of Small Island 
Resilience
Award No. OIA-1946412
VI-EPSCoR
Annual 
Conference
2023
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
NOVEMBER 16-17, 2023
RII Three Award No. OIA-1355437
Mare Nostrum Caribbean: 
Stewardship through Strategic Research 
and Workforce Development 
(2014-2019) $20M
RII Two Award No. OIA-0814417
Integrated Caribbean Coastal Ecosystems (2008-
2013) $11M
RII One Award No. OIA-0346483
Biocomplexity of Caribbean Coral Reefs
(2004-2008) $4.5M
Integrated 
Caribbean Coastal 
Ecosystems
Biocomplexity of
Caribbean Coral Reefs
Mare Nostrum 
Caribbean
USVI TRACK 1 
AWARD 
HISTORY
RII Four Award No. OIA-1946412 
Ridge to Reef: Processes and 
Interdependent Drivers of Small 
Island Resilience (2020-2025) $20M
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Rationale and 
Strategy
for our R2R Project
•
Importance of the Caribbean Sea and 
its associated coastal ecosystems.
•
USVI is a small island territory under 
threat from climate change and other 
hazards.
•
The future of VI’s social-ecological 
systems is in large part dependent on 
the local community to manage these 
resources.
•
Improving scientific skills and 
educational levels of the USVI 
workforce via STEM education will be 
the key to sustainability for the Territory.
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Vision and Mission of 
R2R
The Vision of the R2R project is to improve our 
understanding of the drivers, processes 
interdependencies and consequences of ecological 
change stemming from natural and anthropogenic  
disruptions in Caribbean coastal and marine 
ecosystems.
Our Mission is to advance science-informed 
knowledge that guides managers, researchers and 
communities to more effectively manage the VI’s 
natural resources while we adapt to the impacts of 
Climate Change
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Research Areas
Watershed Monitoring 
and Land Use
Mangroves Ecosystem 
Function & Recovery and 
Mangrove Restoration
Emerging Areas of 
Research
Fish Ecology
Oceanography
Marine Disease 
and Resilience
Coral Reef Resilience
Education and Workforce 
Development
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Overarching Goals
Determining the impact of environmental inputs on 
coral reef resilience.
Mitigating the impacts of terrestrial pollutants in 
coastal and marine ecosystems.
Advancing the science of restoration in coral reef, 
mangrove, and seagrass habitats.
Developing culturally and place-based STEM 
curriculum for VI students.
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Marine and Environmental Sciences Lead 
Researchers
DR. RICK NEMETH,
CO-PI, FISH ECOLOGY LEAD
DR. TYLER SMITH,
CO-PI, CORAL 
REEF RESILIENCE & 
OCEANOGRAPHY LEAD
DR. MARILYN BRANDT,
MARINE DISEASE &
RESTORATION LEAD
DR. PAUL JOBSIS,
EMERGING AREAS:
MOVEMENT ECOLOGY LEAD
DR. KRISTIN WILSON GRIMES,
MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM 
FUNCTION, RECOVERY & 
RESTORATION LEAD
DAVID HENSLEY,
WATERSHED 
TERRESTRIAL MONITORING 
& LAND USE LEAD
DR. EDWIN CRUZ RIVERA,
EMERGING AREAS,
SEAGRASS, ECOLOGY LEAD
DR. GREGORY GUANNEL,
EMERGING AREAS:
SHORELINE RESPONSE LEAD
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Education & Workforce Development 
Lead Researchers
DR. NADIA MONROSE MILLS,
TEACHER PROFESSIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT
DR. MICHELE GUANNEL,
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION 
RESEARCH LEAD
JARVON STOUT,
COMMUNITY 
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST, 
ST. THOMAS / ST. JOHN DISTRICT
DR. VERLEEN MCSWEEN-
MISSOLE,
MENTORING AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE
DR. MOLLY PERRY,
SOCIAL SCIENCE 100 LEAD
KAI NIELSEN,
COMMUNITY 
ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST, 
ST. CROIX DISTRICT
JOSEPH SQUILLACE,
TEACHER PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT, ST. CROIX
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Teacher Professional 
Development and
Mentoring & 
Infrastructure
Undergraduate
Education
Research
Informal Learning
Ridge To Reef Project Administration
KELLY HARRIGAN,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/PA
KAISA PRENTICE ,
DIRECTOR OF BUDGET &
PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
ELISA BRYAN, 
COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST
RESA BERKELEY,
DATA SPECIALIST II
RHONDA TONGE,
RESEARCH GRANTS 
COORDINATOR 
TRACELYN OTTO, 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
ASSISTANT II
JULENE DORSETT 
ADMINISTRATIVE 
SPECIALIST I
TRAVIS HAMLIN,
DATA MANAGER
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Collaborations and Partnerships
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Collaborations and Partnerships
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Kim Waddell – Project Overview
Thank you!
Dr. Kim Waddell
EMAIL: kim.waddell@uvi.edu
PHONE: 340-693-1628
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Michelle 
Jewell
Science Communicator
Zoologist
Wildlife Photographer
michelleajewell.com
2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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