Petrie has been enchanted by the sea for as long as she can remember. She became a certified SCUBA diver while in high school and spent many years exploring coastal waters. Her fascination with marine invertebrates grew while working for the New England Aquarium as an Outreach Specialist. Since then, she has spent years caring for coastal marine animals and providing hands-on experiences to children in schools throughout the United States. Petrie holds a B.S. and M. Ed., and a B.A. in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design.