Dr. Nancy
Montes
About
Nancy’s work focuses on boating and marine spatial planning. With her expertise in Geographic Information Systems, spatial analyses, and human dimensions she supports Florida Sea grant in different ways. For instance, she organizes and teaches a geospatial training program targeting students and natural resource professionals (in-person and online) and she serves as the human-dimensions specialist for planning and evaluating a long-term educational and outreach program to motivate sustainable angling behaviors (Return’Em Right). She also assists the work of other FSG agents (e.g., participation in the design, implementation, and analysis of a series of stakeholder meetings and surveys to develop a strategy for effectively communicating knowledge about red tides in Florida). Due to her experience in boating management, she is currently updating the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) strategic plan. This work is being carried out in collaboration with the Levin College of Law and the UF Center for Coastal Solutions. In addition, she also co-led the implementation of the program’s biennial research competition to select the FSG research portfolio.
Nancy holds a Ph.D. degree in Interdisciplinary Ecology and a M.S. degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences both from the University of Florida. Her B.S. is in Biology from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.