Margarita McInnis earned her master’s degree in geology from the University of California, Davis in 2020. Her graduate thesis focused on the coastal geomorphology of the California Channel Islands, particularly Santa Catalina Island. She studied how marine terraces—ancient, uplifted beach platforms—are created, eroded, and tectonically deformed. For her undergraduate research at UC Santa Barbara, she examined links between climate change, sea-level rise, and coastal biological systems in California and Australia.
As a fellow with the California State Lands Commission, Margarita will work on projects related to climate change and coastal resiliency, such as building state support for adaptation strategies implemented by ports and harbors, collaborating on a shoreline armoring report, and reviewing proposed offshore renewable energy lease applications. Additionally, she will support the Commission's tribal liaison and environmental justice program.
