Chelsea Hunter, one of Ohio Sea Grant’s six Knauss Fellows, didn’t originally picture herself working in the legislative branch. The Ohio State Ph.D. student from the College of Arts and Sciences recently shared how her experience as a fellow inspired her to step outside of her comfort zone, which has allowed her career to flourish.

An Oregon native, Chelsea grew up with a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Her father, a timber feller, instilled this love in Chelsea from a young age. This passion led her to study anthropology at Portland State University, where she gained a deeper understanding of how humans relate to the environment. After falling in love with the major, Chelsea continued to follow her passion to San Diego State University, obtaining a Master’s in anthropology there and later going to The Ohio State University for her Ph.D.

Chelsea’s Ohio State research, focused on the effect of policy on daily lived experiences, has taken her as far as French Polynesia, where she was able to connect with residents on a deeper level while being unable to speak French. This barrier taught her one of the most valuable lessons of her academic career: the importance of being willing to try new things.

“I’m a naturally shy person,” explained Chelsea. “So going to people’s houses and knocking on their doors on a day-to-day basis was something that was hard for me, but it made me stronger and more compassionate.”

A longtime fan of Sea Grant’s mission, Chelsea was drawn to the fellowship because of her skills and research focus, and her interest in the variety of learning experiences available.

After applying, Chelsea heard from current Knauss Fellows about their own career development and growth within the program. Then, she learned that she would be placed in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, specifically the Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing.

This position, which started in February, offered Chelsea a way to gain more experience in policy and an opportunity to work closely with NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard, among other agencies. Now, as her fellowship draws to a close, Chelsea says she’s gained a tremendous amount of insight into the legislative process and how the Senate operates.

A typical day for Chelsea includes reviewing legislation from partner agencies, fielding calls from coalitions or advocate groups, and attending briefings regarding a wide range of topics on Capitol Hill. She said the professional development opportunities offered through the Knauss Fellowship were particularly rewarding.

“Knauss’ emphasis on professional development has been so valuable,” said Chelsea. “Having these opportunities, opportunities that I wouldn’t have had the time or resources for otherwise, has been really helpful.”

Chelsea also said the Knauss Fellowship has been a confidence booster, helping her speak more professionally and accomplish new things, such as learning how to interact with people with different values or viewpoints.

“Learning how to interact with people and overcome differences is very important today.” Chelsea said.

Though all of her fellowship experiences were rewarding, Chelsea fondly recalls one special experience that shone through. Thanks to her subcommittee’s close partnership with NOAA, she was given the opportunity to observe the launching of a satellite from the Kennedy Space Center. The satellite, meant for hurricane tracking and other Earth observations, intrigued Chelsea, as she had never considered how the space industry intersected with conservation. She also has a personal connection to Kennedy Space Center, as she had a family member who was on the Challenger launch!

As Chelsea wraps up her time as a Knauss Fellow, she looks back on the breadth of professional and personal development opportunities she achieved. Her newfound policy knowledge will impact her future research and career endeavors, she said, and these transformational experiences would not have happened without the Knauss Fellowship.

Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.