Meet Our Team

 

The Plastic Wave Project started as a passion project between friends who saw first hand how invasive plastics had become in and around their communities. From the constant encounters with plastic pollution at their local surf breaks to studying microplastics at the lab where they worked, our group couldn't escape the issue. This sense of urgency inspired us to take individual actions and further grew into a passion for spreading our awareness with others.

 
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Nadia Serghis

Growing up on the beaches of Highlands, NJ, Nadia spent her childhood immersed in and around the water swimming, exploring, and surfing. From a very young age she was drawn to the ocean and found she couldn’t stay away from it (nor did she want to). This connection cultivated into a dream of turning her passion into her life’s work. Following her dreams she decided to study marine science, earning a B.S. in Marine and Environmental Science & Policy from Monmouth University. Her deep connection to the ocean has inspired her to want to share this love and passion with others. Nadia dedicates her life to sharing this connection and spreading awareness on environmental issues all with hopes of empowering others to be the change our planet needs.

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Erika Bernal

Erika received her masters in Marine Biology at Montclair State University. She was first introduced to marine debris when she started volunteering on a shellfish project. Since then, Erika has been passionate about bringing awareness to the global plastic problem by public speaking at events in hopes of creating a more sustainable planet. In her spare time, when she’s not chasing her toddler around she spends her free time running her own business and teaching her daughter how important it is to connect with nature.

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Rita Hjelm

Born and raised in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, Rita spent her childhood building sandcastles and chasing after waves on Sandy Hook Gateway National Park. She has been completely enchanted by the ocean for as long as she can remember. This enchantment grew and matured into a passion at the University of South Carolina where she earned a B.S. in Marine Science. She is currently pursing a graduate degree in Sustainability and Environmental Science at Lund University and hopes to inspire others to advocate for the health of our oceans and planet in their own unique ways.