Alicia Amerson received a Master of Advanced Studies in marine biodiversity and conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, in 2015. While in graduate school, Amerson spent more than 200 hours aboard whale-watching vessels along the coast from British Columbia, Canada, to Baja California, Mexico, to better understand how whale-watching tours are conducted and the receptiveness of operators to endorsement programs.
Amerson assisted the Office of the Lieutenant Governor with ocean conservation projects that balance the constraints and opportunities along the California coastline. Specifically, she explored the changing policies and development of an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for scientific and oceanographic advancements, the implementation of a whale-watching endorsement program for the state whale-watching industry, and proposed changes to the Port of San Diego to address sea level rise.
