After graduating from Shipley in 2010, Camille Gaynus received her B.S. in Marine and Environmental Science from Hampton University. During her time at Hampton, she secured multiple internships and several SCUBA certifications. Those undergraduate experiences helped influence her decision to apply to a doctoral program at UCLA to study coral reefs in some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet. In 2019, Camille completed her PhD in Biology at UCLA.

Dr. Gaynus has spent time working at the University of Pennsylvania, University of California Santa Barbara, and Penn State University Brandywine. Currently, she serves as the Chief Science Officer at Black in Marine Science (BIMS), a nonprofit organization, where she strives to uplift, strengthen, and amplify the connections Black communities around the world have with their coastal systems.

We asked Camille to describe her work, the lessons she carries from Shipley, and the advice she hopes will guide today’s students.

As the Chief Science Officer at BIMS, I work with researchers, community members, and policymakers around the globe to ensure that the voices of our community and their knowledge are incorporated into science and policy, making our coastal solutions more efficient and successful. Through BIMS, we do everything from workshops on the latest scientific techniques to fusing this technology with historical data found within Black communities around the world.

To date, we have worked with more than 25 communities to assess biodiversity along their shores by isolating the DNA life leaves behind in water and sediment. The data is publicly available on the web platform eDNA Explorer, where community members can engage with the results. We also have an AI platform called Ocean Justice AI that provides realistic information on queries from our community, including, rather than excluding, the perspectives and knowledge of melanated peoples around the globe. Ocean Justice AI will be relaunched in 2026 to include data from our community on a geospatial map, allowing anyone in the world to view and participate in research in their local environments.

Earlier this year, our documentary Harm in the Water, which examines nutrient pollution throughout the Mississippi River, won Best Documentary at Essence Fest. As CSO, I continue to spread environmental awareness through these milestones.

One moment that always comes to mind is a memory with Ms. Butler-Roberts, my chemistry teacher at Shipley. I struggled, hard, in chemistry. Certain principles just didn’t make sense to me at the time, which is ironic given how much chemistry I have done since high school. Ms. Butler-Roberts was one of my favorite teachers; she made chemistry fun by bringing the science of everyday life into the classroom and adding some color to material that felt so dry to me. I remember staying after class one day after not doing well on a test. I was frustrated because I felt my grade didn’t reflect the time and effort I put into preparing. I already knew I wanted to pursue a science-related field in college, and suddenly I was second-guessing that decision.

Ms. Butler-Roberts (B-Robs, as some called her) told me how much that test counted toward my grade, but what stayed with me most were her words: “science is more than a sheet of paper with words”. Now as a trained field scientist, I realize that every day. I wasn’t a strong test taker, and that followed me throughout my education, but it didn’t mean I didn’t have other strengths that make me an asset to science. Accepting that has made me a stronger professional because I’m now content with the weaknesses I have and more willing to lean into teamwork that makes our science as strong as it can be.

To any Black student walking the halls of Shipley, I’d say this: take advantage of the things that spark your interest, you are Shipley’s greatest asset.

Visit seagaynus.com to learn more about Dr. Gaynus’ work.