Haley Essington is a master’s student in the Marine Affairs Department at the University of Rhode Island. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, where she majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Spanish. Prior to graduate school, Haley spent several years working on environmental justice initiatives in Providence, Rhode Island, focusing on climate resilience and environmental leadership programs for Spanish-speaking communities in flood-prone neighborhoods. Her master’s thesis examines how biological research institutions and conservation initiatives have contributed to the displacement and marginalization of small-scale fishers in Costa Rica. More broadly, her work explores the gaps between stated equity goals and their real-world outcomes.

Outside of her academic and professional work, Haley enjoys watching and playing soccer, crocheting, and spending time at Rhode Island’s beaches year-round.