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Kaitlin (Katie) Mae McConnell

Curriculum Vitae

katiemcconn@gmail.com

Instagram @keiti_mar

www.youtube.com/@katiemcconnell1200

 

Education:

 

2017-2019 - MS Microbiology, Minor in Risk and Uncertainty Quantification in Marine Systems, Oregon State University. Thesis: “Reef Microbiomes of Mo’orea, French Polynesia, a Socio-ecological System”

 

2008-2012 - BS Marine Biology, UC Santa Cruz

 

Academic Awards and Professional Affiliations:

 

  • Surf Ambassador, Finisterre (2024-current)

  • Surf Ambassador, Save the Waves Coalition (2023-current)

  • National Geographic Explorer (2017-current)

  • National Geographic Waitt Foundation Grant Recipient (2017)

  • Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Fellow (2017-2019)

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship Fellow (2018-2019)

  • Richard and Toshi Morita Microbiology Scholarship (2019) 

  • William Trachtenberg Memorial Scholarship, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation & American Fisheries Society (2019) 

  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention (2018)

 

Professional Experience:

2023-Current

  • Naturalist and Expedition Diver, NatGeo/Lindblad Cruises Undersea Team

  • Substitute Teacher, Hawai’i Department of Education

2022- Current

  • Marine Scientist, YachtAid Global

2024

  • AI Tutor - ethics, equality, and bias

2022-2023

  • Surf Instructor, Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience

2020-2021

  • Grant Writer & Project Developer, One People One Reef

  • Business owner, Surf With Katie Surf Lessons, California

2020

  • Kelp Forest Research Diver, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada, México

2019-2020

  • Environmental Science Instructor and Wilderness Guide, Chilean Patagonia Field Semester, Wildlands Studies

2018-2019

  • Graduate Research Fellow, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Traineeship Program (NRT), Oregon State University

  • Intern, One People One Reef Youth Cultural Exchange and Coral Reef Monitoring Program, Yap Outer Islands, Micronesia

2017-2018

  • Biology Graduate Teaching Assistant, Oregon State University

  • Volunteer and English to Spanish Translator, Rios to Rivers Klamath Program

2017

  • Principle Investigator, “Ecosystem Recycling of Whale Carcasses in Golfo de Penas, Chilean Patagonia, after a mass stranding event.” National Geographic Grant CP-067R-17

2016

  • Research Diver, United States Antarctic Program

2015

  • Research Diver, San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant Mitigation Monitoring Project

2012-2017

  • Technical Scientific Assistant & Research Diver, Huinay Scientific Field Station, Chile

 

Selected Publications: 

 

 

Surfing Wins, Awards and Nominations:

 

2024

  • Winner, Thriller at Killers Big Wave Competition, Todos Santos 

  • Winner, Women’s Biggest Paddle, Big Wave Challenge

  • Winner, Biggest Tow, Red Bull Magnitude

  • Nominee, Surfer of the Year, Big Wave Challenge

  • Two additional Big Wave Challenge Entries:

    • 1 tow wave, Jaws

    • 1 paddle wave, Nazaré

  • 4th Place Finalist, 2024 International Bodysurfing World Tour

  • 2nd Place, Sandy Beach Challenge, 2024-5 International Bodysurfing World Tour

  • Currently ranked 4th in the world for women’s bodysurfing, qualified for Team Polynesia

  • 3rd place, Paddle Imua long distance paddle race, Stock Prone, Open division (sole woman prone paddler)

  • Invitee, Lobos Por Siempre Big Wave Invitational, Chile

  • Invitee, El Buey Big Wave Invitational, Chile

  • Invitee, La Vaca Gigante Big Wave Invitational, Basque Country

2023

  • 5th Place, Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition, Hawai’i

  • Prequalifier, 2024 Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition

  • 2nd Place, International Bodysurfing World Tour, Polynesia Regionals 

  • Finals Qualifier, 2024 International Bodysurfing World Tour

  • 3rd Place, Thriller at Killers Virtual Big Wave Competition, Todos Santos, México

  • Alternate, WSL Peahi Jaws Challenge

2022

  • Winner (Women) Lobos Por Siempre Big Wave Invitational, Punta de Lobos, Chile

  • Winner, Rookie of the Year, Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition

  • 3rd place, Red Bull Magnitude Women’s Big Wave Competition, Hawai’i, USA

  • Finalist, Women’s Biggest Paddle, XXL Awards

  • 1st Place Women’s, Santos del Mar Big Wave Invitational, El Buey, Arica, Chile

  • 3rd Place (open), Zicatela Bodysurf Competition,  Puerto Escondido, Mexico

  • Reyna (Queen) de la Competition, Puerto Escondido, Mexico

  • 2nd Place (Women), Mexpipe Warriors en Memoria de Oscar Moncada Surf Competition, Puerto Escondido, Mexico

  • 7th Place (Open) Itacoatiara Big Wave Competition, Brasil

  • Finalist, Biggest Wave, Mavericks Surf Awards

  • Finalist, Ride of the Year, Mavericks Surf Awards

  • Finalist, Performer of the Year, Mavericks Surf Awards 

  • Alternate, WSL Peahi Jaws Challenge

2021

  • Alternate, Quicksilver 2021 Jaws Big Wave Championship

  • Quarterfinalist (Open, 9th overall) Torneo de Bodysurf Zicatela, Puerto Escondido, México

  • Women’s Grand Champion & 1st Place W 30-44, World Bodysurfing Championships, Oceanside, CA

2020

  • Mavericks Surf Awards, highlighted surfer

2019

  • Caught my first wave at Mavericks, December

  • Caught my first wave at Nelscott Reef, March

2017

  • Winner, Longest noseride, Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic, Oregon

  • World Bodysurfing Championships, 5th place Women 18-29 

2012

  • World Bodysurfing Championships, 2nd place Women 18-29 

 

Public Speaking and Presentations

2024

  • Virtual Presentation, “Wonderful Winter Nature - Antarctica.” ConnectMed participants aged 7-15

  • Q&A, Surf de Olas Grandes y Biología Marina, with kids aged 9-16 at Escuela de Surf Curanipe, Chile.

  • Guest, “Hell or High Water” Podcast, Finisterre

2023

  • Naturalist, “Marine Ecology of Alaska’s Fjords and Deepwater Emergent Species.” NatGeo/Lindblad Expedition Cruises

  • Naturalist, “Is it a Sponge? Invertebrate Biology in Alaska’s Fjords”

  • Panelist, Big Wave Surfing and Environmental Activism, Global Wave Conference, Portugal 

  • Panelist, Punta Lobos World Surfing Reserve, Save The Waves Coalition Summit, Santa Cruz, California

2020

  • Creator, Surf Science! Weekly free webinar for children aged 5-12

  • Paddle Forward, One People One Reef annual fundraising and impact reporting meeting.

2019

  • Speaker, Reef Microbiomes of Mo’orea, French Polynesia, a Socio-Ecological System. Western Society of Naturalists Conference. Ensenada, Mexico.

  • Speaker, Transdisciplinary Graduate Curriculum: Risk and Uncertainty Analysis in Marine Systems, National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) Annual Meeting, Northeastern University, Chicago, IL. 

2018

  • Speaker, Tracking Reef Microbiomes of Mo’orea, French Polynesia, across time. NSF Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) all-hands meeting. University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Presenter, Vida Después de la Muerte: Las Ballenas de Golfo de Penas, Patagonia Chilena, Congreso Ciencias del Mar, Chile

 

Media Attention

2024

  • Coen, J. “Meet the Teacher, Marine Scientist and SCUBA Diver Who Charges Big Waves.” SURFER.com

  • Howell, A. “Marine Scientist and Substitute Teacher Takes on Jaws: Katie McConnell offers a lesson in hydrodynamics on Maui.” SURFER.com

  • Howell, August. “Katie McConnell’s Event-Winning Wave at Todos Santos”

  • Connelly, Laylan “Two Socal Surfers in the Spotlight for Big Wave Surfing Feats” Orange County Register. 10 Oct 2024. 

2023

  • See, J. “Get to Know: Katie McConnell. The 2022 Red Bull Magnitude rookie of the year is living her best life.”

2020

  • “Oregon ARCS Scholar Volunteering in COVID-19 Lab in Chile” ARCS Foundation.

2018

  • “PhD Students Awarded ARCS Foundation Scholarships” ARCS Foundation


 

Certifications:

Wilderness First Responder (inc. CPR/1st Aid), National Outdoor Leadership School  (NOLS, 10/2024)

Scientific Diver (AAUS), Rescue Diver & Master Diver (NAUI), Dive Master (PADI)

California Small Boat Operator’s License

Hawaii Boating Licence

Hawaii Thrill Craft License

Hawaii Towsurfing License

European Boating License / Nazare Special Jetski License

Big Wave Risk Assessment Group Surf Responder 1


 

Languages:

English, First language

Spanish, Fluent

Portuguese,Basic conversational

©2022 by Surf with Katie

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