Judy Haner has been the Coastal Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in Alabama for the last 15 years, where she oversees marine restoration, coastal ecology, regional conservation efforts, and linking communities with resources.
Judy completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Lynchburg College in VA with a biology/chemistry dual major. Her master’s degree in Marine Science was completed at the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She serves on the Advisory Committees for the MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium, East Gulf Coast Plan Joint Venture, and the Peninsula of Mobile, as well as being appointed as Affiliated Research Faculty with the University of South Alabama.
Judy has worked for more than 30 years to link watershed activities with estuarine health to promote long-term and targeted coastal restoration. From coordinating Everglades Restoration to managing the largest National Estuarine Research Reserve in the system at Kachemak Bay in Alaska, Judy has strived to connect partners with common goals. Judy has secured more than $92M in competitive grants to implement coastal planning and restoration projects that link science and management with on-the-ground actions and communities. Her strong focus on partnerships has engaged agencies, organizations, local governments, and citizens in collaborative restoration, most notably the Lightning Point Restoration Project in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.
When not at work, Judy can be found in her garden or on her boat with her husband and 2 dogs, fishing and enjoying the Gulf coast.