Heather Coleman

Heather Coleman serves as the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program Coordinator at NOAA, a position held since June 2016, focusing on the protection and management of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems. Prior experience includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Academy of Sciences, where efforts concentrated on monitoring restoration activities in the Gulf of Mexico and evaluating environmental networks. As a Senior Science & Policy Advisor at PacMARA, Coleman worked on enhancing marine and coastal planning. Academic research at UC Santa Barbara emphasized the ecological impacts of offshore oil seeps, leading to a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Management. Additional roles included coordinating kelp restoration efforts and marine education initiatives with various organizations, reflecting a strong commitment to marine conservation and policy.