Community and Engagement Committee

Mission Statement
The mission of the Community and Engagement Committee (CEC) of the Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (FLAFS) is to understand the challenges associated with inclusion and engagement in our chapter and the fisheries profession, increase the awareness of our membership regarding these topics, and suggest strategies to address these challenges. We understand that diverse perspectives are an essential part of advancing fisheries science and management and will continue to strive toward member representation that better reflects the diversity of our state. Our vision is to ensure that FLAFS provides a safe and welcoming professional community that respects and supports the success of every individual and their work in fisheries.

Want to get involved or have a CEC-related question or concern? You can reach out to any of the committee members below or submit an anonymous comment form here.

Committee Members
Kimberly Bonvechio (she/her)

Kimberly.Bonvechio@MyFWC.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Casey Murray (she/her)

Casey.Murray@ufl.edu
PhD Candidate
University of Florida | Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences | UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory

Chelsey Crandall (she/her)

Chelsey.Crandall@MyFWC.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Kristie Perez (she/her)

kristieperez@ufl.edu
PhD Graduate Assistant
University of Florida | Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Department

Amanda Croteau (she/her)

acroteau@uwf.edu
Postdoctoral Associate
University of West Florida | Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation

Michelle Shaffer (she/her)

michelleshaffer8@knights.ucf.edu
PhD Candidate
University of Central Florida | Department of Biology | Lewis Lab of Applied Coastal Ecology

Susanna Harrison (she/her)

Susanna.Harrison@MyFWC.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Quenton Tuckett (he/him)

qtuckett@ufl.edu
Research Assistant Scientist
University of Florida | UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture laboratory

History of the Florida Chapter Community and Engagement Committee

In recognition of the need for diversity and inclusion efforts across Society levels, the Florida Chapter formed its Community and Engagement Committee at its annual meeting in April 2022. The original committee comprised eight members that included students and early and established professionals in academia and government.

Accomplishments and Ongoing Work
  • The CEC Committee’s Guide to Personal Pronouns, Florida Shellcracker, October 2022 (pdf)
  • Florida Chapter Dialogue Agreement (coming soon)