Staff

Drawing on her more than three decades of experience in informal education, Diane Quinn’s goal as Executive Director is to create opportunities for people to keep learning and caring about our marine environment. Collaborating closely with staff, volunteers, and professional partners, she works to elevate programs, exhibits and experiences that bring people closer to the wonders and complexity of the Salish Sea Watershed as well as the growing restoration and conservation efforts being made throughout the region at this critical time.

Diane’s relationship with PTMSC began in 1998 when, while working for the Burke Museum, she first met with PTMSC’s founders and founding executive director about a new exhibit. Joining the PTMSC staff as Program Director in 2017, Diane focused on supporting new initiatives and ongoing programs that share PTMSC’s resources with the communities it serves. As part of this work, she led the creation of the new Visitor Center, Store and Gallery spaces in PTMSC’s Flagship Landing building.

For more than 20 years at the Burke Museum, becoming Director of Education in 2005, she helped to expand the scale, budgets and impacts of school and public programs. She nurtured innumerable community partnerships, contributed to the development of major exhibitions and participated in long-term, new museum planning resulting in a major capital campaign.

PTMSC’s mission along with its deep and sustained ties to the community continue to inspire her.

As Deputy Director and Director of Development, Jen brings decades of nonprofit leadership experience to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, with a career rooted in science education, community building, and strengthening organizations.

Jen enthusiastically builds strong relationships with staff, board members, donors, and community partners, to make a meaningful impact. She brings a collaborative approach to fundraising and organizational leadership, combining strategic thinking with trust, transparency, and accountability.

Her professional path weaves together nonprofit leadership, community philanthropy, and science education. She has led grantmaking and donor engagement efforts at the Jefferson Community Foundation, supported regional collaboration, and spent many years teaching science—from classrooms and college lecture halls to tidepools and citizen science projects right here at PTMSC. Her background in science education continues to inform her belief that learning, curiosity, and connection to place are powerful tools for community resilience.

Jen is inspired by PTMSC’s mission and its deep ties to the community and Salish Sea. When she’s not at work, she can often be found with her family, exploring, walking, making music, or enjoying the Olympic Peninsula.

Sara grew up outside the hot and flat city of Houston, TX. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Environmental Science, she packed up and moved to the cold and
mountains of Alaska. She spent the next few years as the Development Coordinator and Environmental Scientist working across the Kenai Peninsula watersheds where she supercharged her passion for connecting with people who enjoy the world they live, work, and play in.
In Spring of 2025, Sara moved from one peninsula to another, calling Port Townsend her new home. In her free time, she is exploring the land, waters, and skies of the Olympic Peninsula with her partner and their pets.

As the Outreach Coordinator, Mandi enjoys connecting those within our community to PTMSC through a variety of sustainability projects and endeavors. Her focus is on community education and response activities that reduce waste and create a change in attitude towards this waste. Her favorite part of her job is seeing the way a person’s eyes light up when they do something that has made an impact and realize they too can make a difference! Mandi has held several different roles while with PTMSC since 2018, including serving two terms as an AmeriCorps member. She holds a BS in Biology with an emphasis in Animal Science and a minor in Environmental Sustainability from Northern Arizona University. While not working, you’ll find Mandi playing around this beautiful state.

A brief rundown of his numerous tasks: as part of the marketing team, Brian designs print and web collateral for PTMSC’s events and programs while updating the PTMSC website, social media channels, and e-newsletter communications. Development duties include maintaining the donor database and membership programs, as well as organizing and providing administrative support to the PTMSC Annual Benefit Auction, the Stewardship Breakfast, and the various member & donor events. Brian also attends to internal IT matters.

Prior to working at PTMSC, Brian interned with Port Townsend-based Copper Canyon Press. Before relocating to Port Townsend in 2010, Brian worked previously with Oregon State Parks as a public service representative. Brian currently serves as president on the board of Port Townsend Film Festival; he also volunteers with Olympic Angels to provide support to local foster care families.

Whether it’s sipping americanos at a local Port Townsend coffee shop, cranking punk rock on his car stereo on another errand to the local hardware store, day-tripping with his mirrorless camera to any of the infinitely beautiful locations around the Olympic Peninsula with his amazing and beautiful wife Dana, or just spending a rainy day at his beautiful home with his lively cats Luke and Leia, Brian enjoys living the good life.

As Aquarium Specialist, Allison is always looking to steward a love for the environment through education and fun! Working with the public and volunteers, she hopes to continue to bridge the world above and below the tide.

Allison received her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology from University of West Florida. Leaving Florida in 2018 for the mountains and a change of pace, she was involved with zoo education, paleontological work, and animal shelter care in Colorado. She moved to Washington state from Colorado in the beginning of 2024. She has many years of animal experience ranging from rehabilitation, shelter, and zoological care.

Allison has a passion for learning and enjoys spending time soaking up knowledge of the Salish Sea and all who call this beautiful place home. On her free time she can be found walking the beach, hiking, camping, or kayaking.

Ali is from Washington and grew up sailing the Salish Sea.  Always interested in conservation and animal husbandry Ali initially worked with terrestrial species from Southeast Asia. After getting her undergraduate degree from University of Washington she worked at an animal rescue facility in Borneo. She returned to the USA to pursue a master’s degree at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and refocus her career on the marine environment.  Most recently she oversaw the wet labs, aquarium, and field courses at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Virginia.  When not working Ali enjoys introducing her husband and child to the beautiful environment she grew up in.

Hillary grew up in Seattle on Dxʷdəwʔabš (Duwamish) land. They moved to Port Townsend in 2024 with their tiny house on wheels lovingly named ‘The Wildernest’. Hillary started their journey at PTMSC as an AmeriCorps member in 2024, serving as a Marine Stewardship Educator. As part of the Education Team, Hillary assisted with classroom visits, field trips, summer camps and other educational programming for all ages. They especially loved teaching classes that bridged the gap between the arts and sciences. Hillary has since remained on staff and manages our citizen science programs as well as public programming.

Hillary holds a B.A. in Global Studies from the University of Washington and has worked for a variety of environmental nonprofits over the last decade. They are passionate about conserving our natural environment and dreaming up new ways to connect people with our forests, mountains, rivers, and the beautiful Salish Sea. When not at PTMSC, Hillary loves gardening, beach combing, making art, writing music, and spending time with her goat and cat.

Elizabeth started at PTMSC as a volunteer, greeting in the Fort Worden exhibit spaces. With a background in marine biology and education from Occidental College, she enjoys helping out on low tide walks, and is on an unrequited hunt to see a nudibranch in the wild. Following her 30+ career teaching Kindergarten- 7th grade, and lifelong love for visiting museum gift shops, she is now managing our retail spaces downtown and at Fort Worden. “I love that the downtown space has become a visitor’s center. I truly enjoy talking with visitors about our mission, and then sending them off to see our exhibits at Fort Worden!”

Brian moved to the PNW in 2009 to learn how to grow veggies at a small, bio-diverse, organic farm in Indianola. Immersed in the local food scene, he managed the Poulsbo Farmers Market, the North Kitsap High School greenhouse program, and most recently, facilities and operations at Fishline Food Bank in Poulsbo. He also served a term as Vice President of the Washington State Farmers Market Association.

Brian has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management with a minor in Political Science from Northern Illinois University and a Wilderness EMT/ First Responder certificate from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He can often be found with his little family exploring local beaches and forests on foot, by bike and by boat.

Brian joins the PTMSC to maintain and improve its numerous facilities through the coordination of volunteers, staff, partner organizations and tenants.

Hillary has an eclectic work history that has always centered around community and/or nature, and most loved when her work combined the two. She has a degree in Environmental Science from Humboldt State University, and is excited to be connecting people with volunteer opportunities at PTMSC.

Hillary has never lived far from the Pacific Ocean, despite growing up in both hemispheres. She fell in love with the Pacific Northwest over 20 years ago, and hasn’t looked back. She shuns the heat of her childhood, and loves the many textures of gray, as well as how special the blue sky is. She enjoys growing food for her community, and making things, most often out of wool, herbs and fruit.

Deb moved to Port Townsend seven years ago after retiring from teaching in California, where she taught all subjects to grades K-8 at a small rural school for 25 years. She started with the Marine Science Center six years ago by volunteering as an aquarium docent, and loved it! Deb was thrilled to be offered a paid position, working mostly remotely doing deposits, invoices, mail, and office duties!

In high school, Deb actually wanted to be a marine biologist, but discovered that she is very prone to sea sickness, so switched to land, and got her degree in anthropology. While in college, Deb decided to become a teacher because it would include all her interests (math, science, art, reading, and kids) in one job! She also has a “hobby business”, a shop on Etsy called Wee Brigadoon. She makes custom tiny clay figurines that are put in fairy gardens or used as birthday and wedding cake toppers. Deb also enjoys baking treats for the staff and for PTMSC special events.

As the Education Manager, Carolyn enjoys sharing her passion for conserving the Salish Sea with students through school programs and summer camps at PTMSC. She enjoys connecting youth and adults with the wonders of the natural world and uses art as a teaching tool whenever possible. Her favorite part of the job is being a witness to discoveries and connections made by students in the marine environment.

Carolyn has worked at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center in various roles since 2014, including serving as a Marine Mammal Stranding Network Intern and a term as an AmeriCorps member.  She holds a BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Washington and has also served at the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge as a Visitor Services and Education Intern. When she’s not at PTMSC, Carolyn might be painting, hiking, rollerskating, birding, listening to music, or some combination thereof.

Kelly is excited to be moving back to Washington and to be working at PTMSC with AmeriCorps! She graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2018 with a BS in Biology, and since then has worked at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, in Maui with endangered birds, and with a flock of 80 lorikeets at the Nashville Zoo. Kelly is looking forward to being back in the PNW, and getting to know more folks who are passionate about conservation and education!