Courtney Pickett

Courtney joined the Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) team at GMRI in 2022. She manages the MREP Southeast and MREP Caribbean programs, leading collaborative program development and delivering multi-day workshops with Steering Committee members across Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Southeast United States.

In her role, Courtney works closely with fishing industry members, Fishery Management Council staff, and NOAA Fisheries staff to support collaborative learning and relationship-building among fishermen, scientists, and managers. Her work focuses on creating inclusive learning environments that foster shared understanding of fisheries science and management and support durable relationships across regions and communities.

Before joining GMRI, Courtney built a career at the intersection of marine science, coastal policy, and education. Her background includes field-based teaching and program leadership in a range of coastal settings, with a focus on place-based learning, collaborative problem-solving, and supporting people who depend on marine resources.

Courtney holds a bachelor’s degree in Earth and Ocean Science from Duke University and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in coastal management from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She also spent six years in Duke University’s Marine Science and Conservation doctoral program. She brings deep experience in stakeholder engagement, curriculum design, and coordinating multi-partner programs.