Carolyn
Kovacs

About

Born in south Florida, Carolyn grew up attending environmental education programs and quickly developed a love of the ocean and marine life. Interested in the effects that humans have on wildlife and their ecosystems, Carolyn’s graduate research examined human-related foraging behaviors in bottlenose dolphins in Savannah, Georgia. She also received an NSF GK-12 Fellowship and developed curricula to bring her research into local classrooms. After graduating Carolyn focused her career around marine science education, teaching marine biology, oceanography, and coastal ecology for study abroad programs around the world. She has now returned to Florida to provide educational opportunities for the residents of Flagler and Volusia counties as a Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent. In her free time Carolyn enjoys longboard surfing and exploring Florida’s waterways via stand up paddleboard.

Carolyn holds a M.S. in Marine Sciences from Savannah State University and a B.S. in Biology from the College of William and Mary.

Flagler & Volusia Counties Extension Programming

Flagler and Volusia Counties feature 65 miles of shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean, with the famous Daytona Beach in the center. Just inshore you can find productive marsh and mangrove filled estuarine environments along the Intercoastal Waterway. Move further still and encounter over 100 lakes as well as multiple natural springs home to wintering manatees. 

Carolyn’s programs in Flagler and Volusia Counties focus on enhancing marine and environmental literacy and stewardship, with topics including coastal ecology, estuaries, dunes, plastics, and sustainability.  Educational programming is offered for youth through 4-H marine science camps and for adults through a variety of courses, including the Florida Master Naturalist Program and Florida 101.  Programs also concentrate on improving and promoting healthy habitats and ecosystems through education, restoration, and citizen science monitoring.