Kelly Tait

Kelly Tait, M.S. has a diverse work experience spanning over several different industries and fields. They have held various roles in environmental protection, regulatory compliance, research, teaching, and tutoring.

In their most recent position as a Program Manager at the Port of San Diego, Kelly oversees regulatory monitoring programs related to water and sediment quality in San Diego Bay, manages budgets and consultant teams, and supervises employees. Prior to this, they served as a Senior Environmental Specialist at the same organization, focusing on regulatory and monitoring environmental programs within the Planning and Green Port Department.

Before joining the Port of San Diego, Kelly worked as an Aquatic Scientist at Amec Foster Wheeler, where they were responsible for regulatory permit compliance monitoring and reporting, as well as project management duties such as proposal writing and project costing.

Kelly also has experience working as a Math and Science Tutor for grades K-12, a role in which they primarily supported students with learning disabilities in the math and science fields. They have also worked as an Environmental Consultant at WSSI Environmental Consulting, where they conducted surveys, wrote technical reports, and communicated with agencies for permitting.

In addition, Kelly has held positions as a Teaching Associate at San Diego State University, where they taught microbiology laboratory courses, and as a Research Assistant at SDSU Research Foundation, where they provided dive, field, and lab assistance on various projects.

Earlier in their career, Kelly served as a Marine Science Instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, creating and delivering a hands-on teaching curriculum for students in grades 4-12. They have also worked as a Junior Lifeguard Program Director for the Long Beach Township Beach Patrol, overseeing staff and leading programs to teach ocean safety and environmental awareness.

Prior to that, Kelly gained experience as an Ecotoxicology Lab Assistant and Laboratory Technician at Coastal Carolina University, where they prepared and set up lab experiments, ran analyses on samples, and fulfilled laboratory needs for the Marine Science Department. They also briefly worked as a Research Technician at Rutgers University Marine Field Station.

Overall, Kelly Tait, M.S. has a rich and diverse background in environmental protection, research, teaching, and leadership roles.

Kelly Tait, M.S. has a diverse education history in the field of marine sciences. Kelly obtained their Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University, where they studied marine ecology from 2004 to 2006. Afterward, they pursued a dual degree program with Salisbury University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, specializing in Environmental and Marine Science from 2002 to 2004.

Kelly furthered their education by completing a Master of Science degree in Biology with a focus on Marine Conservation Ecology from San Diego State University, where they were enrolled in the Ecology Program Area. Kelly successfully completed this program from 2008 to 2011.

In addition to their formal education, Kelly has obtained several certifications related to their field of study. Kelly became a Scientific Diver certified by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) in June 2008. Kelly also gained certification as an Open Water SCUBA diver through the NAUI program in September 2006 and achieved NITROX SCUBA Diver certification from NAUI in February 2009. Kelly acquired further skills through a Small Vessel Operator and Boat Trailering Module certification from the Motorboat Operator Certification Course in September 2008. Lastly, they obtained a Caulerpa Inspector certification from the California Department of Fish and Game in September 2010 and CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration certification from NAUI in February 2012.