Holly Abeels, M.S.

Holly Abeels, M.S. has been the Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent for the University of Florida IFAS Extension Office in Brevard County since January 2010. I have a Master’s in environmental science from Florida Gulf Coast University and a Bachelor’s in marine biology from Long Island University. I am currently working on a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary ecology from the University of Florida. I specialize in coastal and marine environmental education, emphasizing the environmental health, climate, and sea level rise resiliency of the Indian River Lagoon, Brevard County, and the east-central Florida region. As an extension agent, I bring science-based information to the community regarding natural resources, sustainability, climate change, and water quality and conservation. My Extension programs include working with communities to address climate change and sea level rise and assisting them in planning for and implementing adaptation projects, strategies, and tools to reduce the impacts of flooding and storms.

In 2012, I completed training on principles of collaborative leadership and participatory decision-making and their application to Florida natural resources issues as a Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute graduate. In 2020, I received the Certified Climate Change Professional® credential, CC-P, from the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) to further my dedication to professional development and competency in the fundamentals of climate change preparedness and strategic planning. As an Extension agent who focuses on community engagement and planning for climate change, I have been invited to participate in the Regional Resilience Collaborative Steering Committee focusing on climate change resiliency in the East Central Florida region. I have been invited to speak to various groups, including the NAACP Florida State Conference, and collaborate on grant opportunities and projects.

Holly Abeels is part of the Southeast Navigator Network