Kayla obtained her bachelors degree in marine science and biology from Coastal Carolina University and later completed her masters in conservation biology from Miami University of Oxford. She is originally from the U.S. but has pursued a life long career of travel and marine conservation. Having worked in marine research programs around the world, she has found her passion in making marine science and conservation programs exciting and accessible to all. For the past ten years, she has worked as a marine science and conservation education specialist. She permanently moved to New Zealand in 2019, where she now heads the TriOceans education department, acts as Co-Director of the Marine Kaitiaki Course and the Co-Founder of the Ocean Mind Project.