Originally published by University of Alaska Anchorage

Photo Notes From top left: Izabella “Bella” Block, Elizabeth “Lizi” Byrd, Madison Haumschild and Kyle Kolda. (Photos courtesy of Alaska Sea Grant / design by Brett Rawalt / University of Alaska Anchorage)

On Aug. 4, Alaska Sea Grant announced its 2026 State Fellows. Alaska Sea Grant State Fellows assist federal and state agencies to plan and implement natural resource programs and gain job experience in the process. This year’s fellows will be hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Sea Grant, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, the Alaska Center for Marine Debris and the Marine Debris Foundation, and the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS). Congratulations to Madison Haumschild on their placement with AOOS, and to the entire cohort selected for this year’s program!

Madison Haumschild
Alaska Ocean Observing System
M.S. Biological Sciences

Izabella “Bella” Block
Alaska Sea Grant Coastal Resilience Program
A.A. General Program ’18, B.S. Anthropology and Biological Sciences ’21, M.P.P. Public Policy ’25

Elizabeth “Lizi” Byrd
NOAA Fisheries, Protected Resources Division
M.S. Biological Sciences

Kyle Kolda
Alaska Sea Grant, Communications
M.S. Biological Sciences ’26