Our Team
Lisa McIntyre
Executive Director
Lisa has always felt strongly about conservation. Lisa grew up on the waters of Long Island, boating and developing a respect for our oceans. Through the years, she has watched our oceans struggle to survive. She feels strongly that students need to be educated about the environment so that they can make smarter decisions and become agents of change. Lisa serves on the board of a K-12 charter school, is a National Geographic certified educator and understands that learning through hands-on experience is impactful and empowering. She has shared messages about the importance of our oceans with scout troops and students. She is also a passionate scuba diver. As a professional PADI Divemaster affiliated with the largest dive shop in New York City, she enjoys sharing her passion with new and returning scuba divers. Lisa also serves as an international ambassador for Girls That Scuba, the largest women's SCUBA organization. She enjoys being a member of the Hoboken Green Team and the NYC Sea Gypsies. With these goals in mind, Lisa set out to protect our oceans by educating students through SeaSmart. Lisa, along with members of the SeaSmart team, will accompany students on travel programs, along with their local dive guides and instructors.
Email Lisa at lisa.mcintyre@seasmartocean.org.
Eva Paredes
Director of Education
Eva is a science teacher with a passion for the ocean and conservation. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Oceanography and Environmental Science and a Masters in Teaching. Eva worked as an environmental scientist for approximately 3 years where she learned about conservation and mitigation efforts. Furthermore, Eva is part of the National Geographic Community as a Certified Educator, and a NJ School of Conservation Senior Scholar. Her background and experience provide a deep understanding of how to connect our natural and urbanized worlds. Through SeaSmart, her goal is to provide participants a better understanding and appreciation for the ocean, as well as continue conservation efforts. Eva loves SCUBA diving, and she spent a summer helping restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys. She also had the opportunity to participate in research where undergraduate students analyzed and surveyed ongoing research associated with invasive species in the Cayman Islands. In her free time, she also enjoys hiking and going on walks with her dog Brody. Email Eva at eva.paredes@seasmartocean.org.
Ellen Myers
Director of Conservation & Sustainability Programs
Ellen, aka “sinza” (meaning always without shoes), lives in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico where she is working for the non-profit Fundación Marvivo. Her project, Espacios Azules, aims to create sustainable economic opportunities through environmental education. Before moving to Baja California Sur, she worked and guided all over the world in shark diving, liveaboards, and teaching scuba diving. She is committed to connecting science, tourism, and community for future sustainability and educating about the important ocean ecosystems. Ellen enjoys sharing the importance of sustainable development and ocean conservation with students from all over the world.
Jane McConnell
Board Treasurer
Jane is passionate about conserving the earth's natural resources and feels committed to the mission of the SeaSmart organization. She has always believed that the best way to learn is by active engagement and experience. She spent 3 years as a special educator in Hudson County NJ and served as a volunteer fundraiser for a K-12 charter school where she managed incoming donations and events for 7 years. She currently works as a business analyst for a global financial services corporation. She has never actually done any scuba diving but enjoys snorkeling. Being part of the SeaSmart family may be just the thing to move her to the next level!
Patti Gallagher
Director of Development
Patti had a successful career as a reinsurance underwriter for 21 years. She was a Trustee and Chairperson of her children’s school’s Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises money through fundraising events, capital campaigns and annual giving. This money is solely invested in the school, the children, the teachers, educational programs, infrastructure and technology. Patti volunteers with the St. Francis Breadline for the Poor and its food pantry, and volunteered as an intergenerational reader for the Union Settlement, reading to kindergarten and first grade students at Central Park East elementary school. She has been a charity runner numerous times, for causes that help children. Patti and her husband Chris are certified SCUBA divers. She appreciates the importance of a healthy ocean and recognizes the need to expand experience and knowledge across all student demographics. Patti looks forward to giving others the opportunity to dive through her work with SeaSmart.
Halle Stoffel
Junior Ambassador
Halle has dreamt of becoming a Marine Biologist since she was 5 years old. After snorkeling in Croatia and the British Virgin Islands, she was enamored with the underwater world. She had her first ocean dive in Bimini, Bahamas, alongside awe-inspiring Hammerhead sharks, prompting her to commit to the idea of helping the marine ecosystem. Halle pursued further knowledge and skills this past summer, earning her Advanced Open Water PADI certification with SeaSmart in Roatan. The coral reef conservation and eradication of invasive species solidified her interest in the science and conservation of the ocean. She is looking forward to applying to college as a Marine Biology major. Her dream is to contribute to our understanding of the world's oceans, advocate for their preservation, and inspire future generations to explore the wonders that lie beneath the waves.
Charlie Iverson
Junior Ambassador
Charlie has always had a deep appreciation for the ocean. He became familiar with SeaSmart on a Coral Reef Restoration dive in Key Largo, Florida. He later performed more coral work in Grand Cayman, committed to contributing to a healthy ocean. Since participating in SeaSmart's ocean conservation, marine science and SCUBA program in Roatan, where he earned is PADI Advanced Open Water certification, Charlie has been very interested in learning more about the ocean and what he can do to better preserve its inhabitants and critical ecosystems.
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Nella Craft
Past Junior Ambassador
Nella is a student at the Notre Dame School of Manhattan and started the Notre Dame Marine Biology Club. She has always loved the ocean and after completing the SeaSmart Summer Intensive Program, she realized there is tons more to learn about the ocean. Nella says, "Not only is the ocean fun to learn about, it’s important to learn about as well. The ocean is a critical piece of the earth, and learning about it is the best way to preserve it. My goal for my club is to discover what lives in and relies on the ocean, effects humans have on the ocean, and how to help save the ocean."