Kelley van Hees
I am originally from the high deserts of Nevada but fell in love with the PNW as an undergraduate at WWU. I started my career in marine science and then found my way to water chemistry through my work in environmental laboratories. I am excited to join the Herrera team and support projects that aim to protect, manage, and restore our ecological and water resources.
Favorite Species:
The Leopard Shark, Triakis semifasciata. These sharks have beautiful banding patterns on their dorsal side. They are hardy little sharks that can live 20-30 years. I was fortunate to do research on them during my schooling in California, and it was a treat to see them in the estuaries where we were working.
Proudest Moment on the Job:
Not panicking when finding a giant tarantula-like spider under the cap of a bore pipe while doing groundwater field research. It happily stayed in the cap while we did our work, so we carefully put it back when we were done!
B.S. in Biology, Western Washington University