Melissa Edmonds, MEM
Scientist, Marine Biology, Marine Wildlife Program
Melissa joined AWI in 2024. She is a member of the Marine Wildlife team, providing scientific input on issues pertaining to the conservation of marine mammals, sea turtles, and other marine species.
Having nurtured a deep love for the ocean since childhood, Melissa has always aspired to find solutions to the most urgent challenges facing our oceans. Before coming to AWI, she spent six years at the Southern Environmental Law Center as a science and policy expert. She received her master’s degree from the Duke University Marine Lab, where she studied the impacts of sea turtle tourism in the Caribbean. She also holds a bachelor’s in marine biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Melissa resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. She enjoys reading, cheering on Duke basketball, and traveling to national parks with her husband, Diquan. They share their home with Sydney, a rescue Aussiedoodle.