Page 105 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2025

Left to Right: Jennifer Wittmann, Office of Coastal Resources Management Director;
Traci Floyd, Office of Marine Fisheries Director; and Ayesha Gray, Ph.D., Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Director.
ambassador—a female diamondback terrapin named Tobi—plays a role in connecting the public to South Mississippi’s unique coastal ecosystems.
Together, the women of MDMR combine scientific expertise with hands-on fieldwork, regulatory insight, and a deep commitment
to public service. Whether they’re collecting data in marshes, coordinating restoration projects, or building science-based education efforts, their work directly supports the agency’s mission to manage and protect South Mississippi’s coastal and marine environments.
As environmental challenges continue to test the Gulf, these women aren’t just responding to shifting tides—they’re shaping the future of science, conservation, and resilience across South Mississippi.
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES 1141 Bayview Ave., Biloxi 228.374.5000 www.dmr.ms.gov
Front Row Left to Right: Cassy Porter, Kaitlyn Payne, Alyssa Timbs, Megan Fleming, Jessica Woodall and Sally Richards. Back Row Left to Right: Lauren Kegley, Jennifer Cumbest, Elizabeth Moore, Lindsey Hoye, Brianna Andrews, Emmett Carstens and Ayesha Gray, Ph.D.
Not Pictured: Selena Burhorn,
Melody Chaplin, Jennifer DeBose, Ph.D., MaCayla Dixon, Madison Parker, Margo Posten, Emily Satterfield, Renae Schaak, Dawn Thompson and Kati Wright.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
September 2025 | 105