Megan McKenna

Dr. Megan McKenna is a marine scientist and educator currently working with a variety of organizations in the Monterey area, including Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and the California Ocean Alliance. Her research operates at the interface of science and policy by developing analysis tools, frameworks, and scientific syntheses to inform marine conservation strategies related to ocean noise. Megan is fascinated by sound— what we can learn from it, how it shapes the world around us, and what our future might sound like. Dr. McKenna has listened and continues to listen above and below water through collaborative projects at regional, national, and international scales. Previously, Megan worked as a biologist with the US National Park Service and Marine Mammal Commission after completing her PhD in biological oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.  

Megan’s current teaching experiences span undergraduate and graduate curriculum.  As adjunct professor at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, she teaches the International Marine Science and Policy course in the International Environmental Policy Program. She co-directs the Middlebury California Climate and Coast Semester at MIIS (spring semester). For the Middlebury School of the Environment, Megan teaches Introduction Marine Ecosystems and co-teaches Environmental Analysis.