Knauss Fellows

The Knauss Fellowship, established in 1979, matches highly qualified graduate students interested in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources with hosts in the federal legislative or executive branches of government in Washington, DC.

The Fellows are sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant, located at the University of Rhode Island, and part of NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program, which promotes the conservation and sustainable development of marine resources for the public benefit.

Since 2006, seven RWU Law students have been selected as Fellows:

Nicholas Obolensky '12, a 2013 Fellow, is working with the Office of Assistant Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Sarah Parker '12, is currently interning as a 2013 Fellow with the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.

Kathleen Haber '10, a 2011 Fellow, worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Program.

Christina Hoefsmit '10, interned as a 2011 Fellow in the Coast Guard's Marine Transportation System office.

Nicholas Battista ‘08 was a 2009 Fellow and worked for Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME).

Jennifer Mehaffey ‘07, a 2008 Fellow, worked as a Policy Advisor to the Director of the Committee on Marine Transportation System, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Elizabeth Etrie ‘06 interned as a 2007 Fellow with the Office of Marine Conservation, Department of State in its Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

For more information regarding the fellowship, please see http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/knauss/