Dr. Kiersten Stanzel is the Executive Director of the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, a nonprofit focused on protecting the bays and estuaries of the Texas Coast. Kiersten has over 15 years of experience in developing successful environmental partnerships in the Coastal Bend.  In her current role with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, she works closely with federal, state, and local agencies, other nonprofits, and private companies to increase public awareness and support for cleaner water quality and healthy coastal habitats. She also has a long track record of generating financial support for coastal protection projects, having raised more than $60 million in the past seven years.  Kiersten received her B.S. in Biology from Augustana College and her Ph.D. in Marine Science from The University of Texas at Austin.