The confidence to learn something new
Erin Spencer ‘14 earned one of W&M’s first undergraduate minors in marine science through the Batten School & VIMS
Erin Spencer was one of the first William & Mary undergraduate students to earn a minor in marine science when she graduated in 2014. Since then, she has forged an impressive career in marine ecology and science communication. Her path, shaped by formative experiences while earning the minor through William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, in collaboration with W&M Arts & Sciences, reflects her deep passion for the ocean and its ecosystems.
A marine ecologist, communicator, National Geographic Explorer and children’s book author, Spencer describes herself as “effusive” about her positive experiences at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS. “Going to William & Mary was the single most important thing for my career. Everything I got to do after undergrad was directly tied to something I had done at William & Mary and at VIMS.”
A Family Legacy Helps Forge a New Path
With her father a graduate of the MBA program, Spencer was clothed in W&M attire from a young age and the university always held a special place in her heart. “I toured a dozen schools,” she says, “but at the end, I could only picture myself at William & Mary. It wasn't something that my parents demanded of me, but then it became a fun and meaningful thing that we could share.”
Spencer’s passion for marine science was evident from an early age, inspired by summers at the Jersey Shore. “I built this love of being on the water and at the ocean,” she said. It was only natural then, when Spencer began her academic career, that she immediately gravitated toward the then-newly formed undergraduate minor in marine science. “I don't even remember deciding to do the marine science minor,” she said, “because it felt like such a no-brainer.”
Immersive Learning at the Batten School & VIMS
Spencer said that taking classes at the Batten School & VIMS meant “jumping into marine science at an advanced level,” often taking courses alongside graduate students. Yet it is only in retrospect that Spencer fully recognizes the value of her experiences in the marine science minor courses.
“I didn't realize at the time what a rare experience it is to get to work with some of the people at VIMS,” she said. “I took biological oceanography with Deborah Steinberg who was amazing, and she's one of the top people in her field. But at the time, I didn’t know just what a high level of education I was being exposed to.”
And it wasn’t only the classroom experiences that were unique, but time spent in the field and lab as well. Spencer said, “One of the things that stood out to me about working at VIMS is that I was able to work in a research lab as a sophomore... I had incredible access to undergraduate research, and I didn't realize how rare that was and how lucky I was... Because I had independent research experience as an undergrad, it set my resume apart when I was applying to graduate school.”
Those hands-on experiences also fostered a sense of community among the undergraduate students, particularly during the immersive two-week summer course at the Eastern Shore Lab research facility in Wachapreague, Virginia. “We all came from different backgrounds,” she said, “but we spent every waking moment together, from the muck of the marsh to the bunk-style dorms.”
That camaraderie made the experience of earning the marine science minor particularly special and, Spencer says, “What’s cool is that a lot of us have continued on into the field, or into related fields.”
Spencer’s credentials as an undergraduate were further bolstered by a variety of impressive accomplishments, including designation as a W&M Monroe Scholar and acceptance into National Geographic’s Young Explorer Program, through which she spent a summer studying invasive lionfish in the Florida Keys.
Spencer adamantly credits helpful mentors as instrumental to her success. For example, Sarah Glaser, a visiting professor at the Batten School & VIMS, had students write a mock National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal, Spencer recounts, “and she edited it as if she was an NSF reviewer.” This assignment equipped Spencer with grant-writing skills that would prove invaluable. “The next summer, I applied for that research grant from National Geographic, and I directly applied all of those skills,” she explains. “And I got the grant.”
A Career in Marine Science and Communication
After graduating, Spencer pursued a master’s degree in ecology at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she worked with red snapper fisheries and seafood mislabeling. She went on to complete her Ph.D. in biology at Florida International University, studying the movement and behavior of great hammerhead sharks using biologging technology.
Today, Spencer works as the communications manager for restoration at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, focusing on restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Along the way, Spencer has continued to work with National Geographic and written two marine science books for children and families: “The World of Coral Reefs,” published in 2022, and “The Incredible Octopus,” released in 2024.
Spencer is thrilled about the opportunities to synthesize her dual passions for science and writing. “I get to combine two avenues that I pursued for my whole career,” she says, “and I pinch myself. I can’t believe it’s my job.”
An Alum’s Words of Advice & Reflection
For current students at the Batten School & VIMS, Spencer offers this advice: “Don't be afraid to fail; part of the experience is learning how to do, and how not to do, research. And don't be afraid to stretch yourself. Ask as many questions as you can of the people around you. There is such an incredible amount of brain power between VIMS and William & Mary, and it is so rare to spend time in an environment with so many experts in one place.”
Spencer’s journey from curious undergraduate to accomplished scientist and communicator is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary learning, mentorship and hands-on research. Ultimately, when describing the undergraduate experience, Spencer says it boils down to this: “William & Mary and VIMS gave me confidence in myself that I can go and learn something new.”
This alumni profile was written and published in February, 2025.