Fafa Van Ha, a Master of Environmental Management student, spent her summer as a tribal engagement strategies intern with the NOAA Greater Atlantic Fisheries Office. Van Ha is pursuing concentrations in Coastal and Marine Systems and in Community 糖心传媒ment and Environmental Justice.

Each year, Nicholas School of the Environment (NSOE) students complete internships with organizations around the world. These summer experiences provide valuable opportunities to gain career-related experience and build a professional network. 

Duke Environment recently caught up with Van Ha to learn more about her experience. 

What aspects of the experience did you find most rewarding or memorable and why?

Researchers in safety gear work with a large sampling net on the stern of the research vessel Connecticut in open ocean.

My internship project was extremely rewarding, especially the in-person aspect! Not only did I get to travel all across New England exploring existing oral histories and exhibits as part of my research, meet with the Department of Natural Resources of a Tribal Nation and attend a fisheries council meeting, but I also got to work and learn from an amazing team of passionate people with vastly wide experiences with the ocean.  

Another memorable aspect of my experience was the ability to attend an eight-day research cruise collecting biodiversity data in and around the monument [note: which monument?]. It was an incredible and unforgettable way to get my sea legs! 

How did the coursework and resources at the Nicholas School prepare you for success in this role as well as your internship search?

My experience as a graduate research assistant in the Transdisciplinary Environments Lab, working specifically with the STRONG Manoomin Collective, was instrumental in understanding relational aspects of my project. 

I also applied skills from Geospatial Analysis for Marine and Coastal Environments, International Fisheries Policy, Science and Knowledge in Global Climate Governance and Project Management for International Development, taught at the Sanford School of Public Policy. 

Lastly, this experience would not have been possible without the support of the Nicholas School Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC).  

Did you collaborate with any Nicholas School alumni? If so, how did those connections add to your summer experience?

My summer experience would not have been possible without the mentorship and support of my Nicholas School alumni mentor. My mentor introduced me to my summer supervisors. When I started my internship, I quickly learned that one of the monument staff members was also an NSOE alum!  

How has this internship influenced your career aspirations? Did it confirm or change your professional goals in any way?

My internship confirmed my interest in working in the weeds of co-management structures and showed me how much creativity is needed in all aspects of ocean stewardship and management.

Research vessel crosses the ocean near sunset, with two red buoys floating in the foreground beneath a golden sky.