Melissa Morris has been in the conservation sector for over eight years working on plastic pollution and offshore drilling at the federal, state, and local level. She has advocated for change from congress to co-sponsor legislation and have created ordinances to eliminate single use plastics in southern California. Melissa previously founded a non-profit called Service to Sea – which provided active-duty military personnel with opportunities to connect with ocean conservation in San Diego. She has also worked as a science communicator for a variety of nonprofits and private companies spreading the word about preventing plastic pollution and encouraging sustainable seafood. Melissa’s love for the ocean began on the shores of Miami, Florida. She has been a passionate conservationist and water enthusiast since childhood, launching multiple catch and release fishing programs, a sustainable fisheries initiative, and raising awareness about the importance of transparency when it comes to local seafood from South Florida to San Diego. Melissa holds a Master’s degree in advanced studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Miami.

Why she works for Hispanic Access…

"As a Cuban American woman, Melissa works to elevate the voices of latinos in the conservation space while expanding on different sectors from waterways, climate change to oceans."

In her spare time…

"I spend time with my husband, family, and our dog, Kaia. We enjoy being out in nature whether at the beach, hiking, or at a park. I love cooking, baking sourdough bread, tending to my herb garden, playing with pups, and watching horror movies.”

Her favorite book…

“A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena.”

A person she finds inspirational…

“My husband, parents, brother, and grandparents.”