Protecting Coastal Wetlands and Coral Reefs

Kim Jensen is an associate manager with Pew’s protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project, where she contributes to the team’s policy, engagement, and project management efforts. Before joining Pew, Jensen worked at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, where she helped lead the organization’s advocacy efforts on U.S. federal policies and programs related to nature-based solutions to climate change. She also served at the Department of the Interior during the Obama administration. Jensen holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Point Loma Nazarene University and is completing a master’s in energy policy and climate at Johns Hopkins University.

Michael Latimer is a senior associate with Pew’s protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project. Previously, Latimer supported Pew’s crosscutting environmental policy team, providing expertise and leading coordination efforts to advance Pew’s engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as in multilateral forums, such as the Our Ocean Conference, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the U.N. General Assembly. Latimer holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, with a concentration in conservation, and a master’s in environmental management from George Mason University.

Kate Meyer is a principal associate with Pew’s protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project. She helps support countries in developing the scientific framework needed to ensure strong protections for coastal wetlands and coral reefs. Before joining Pew, Meyer managed Caribbean coral reef and whale shark research in Honduras and developed GIS mapping tools for marine protected areas to better engage local stakeholders with coastal environmental laws. Meyer holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s in marine biodiversity and conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. She also has master’s degrees in environmental management and business administration from Yale University.

Layla Razek is a program assistant with the protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project. She supports countries in developing the scientific framework needed to ensure strong protections for seagrass beds, salt marshes, and mangroves. Before joining Pew, Razek was a Schull Yang International Experience Scholar, investigating discrimination among transgender women in Brazil with the Thombs Research Team. She was also a McGill Global Health Scholar with research experience in freshwater invasive species and equitable admissions processes in health care. Razek holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and political science from McGill University and is currently a RAY Conservation Fellow.

Anelise Zimmer is a principal associate on the protecting coastal wetlands and coral reefs project. She supports policy engagement with governments, scientific partners, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and other stakeholders. Before joining Pew, Zimmer served as a park ranger in Alaska, taught English in Malaysia as a Fulbright grantee, managed the environmental programs of Ocean Beauty Seafoods, and consulted on various mangrove, coral reef, and coastal conservation and research efforts in Hawaii, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Zimmer holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Willamette University and a master’s in environmental management from Yale University.