Robert Ellis (M.E.S.M., University of California, Santa Barbara) has been teaching marine, earth and environmental science courses in both the classroom and the field since 2000. He serves as associate professor in the marine science department at Orange Coast College in Southern California and director of the OCC Public Aquarium. When not on campus, Professor Ellis often helps to develop and teach international field courses in marine science and management in various parts of the Caribbean, Central America and the South Pacific. His graduate work focused on marine resource management at UC Santa Barbara, and he has participated in and managed research projects and educational programs in many parts of the world. He and wife Katie have two wonderful kids, Kalen and Abigail.