The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium has a new director — Heather Doyle.
Heal the Bay has welcomed Doyle who will be in charge of the marine science center’s operations and fundraising.
Doyle has experience in senior nonprofit management through Junior Achievement and the Girl Scouts both in the United States and Europe.
A native of South Dakota, Doyle comes from a family of science educators; her father was a biology professor for over 37 years and her grandfather was a high school science teacher.
Doyle heads a staff of eight at the Aquarium, which educates nearly 15,000 students each year and sees approximately 70,000 visitors during public hours.
The hands-on marine science center exhibits more than 100 species of marine life – all native to the Santa Monica Bay – including sharks and rays, octopus, the Pacific seahorse, many varieties of fish and a myriad tide pool animals in accessible touch tanks.
By providing a hands-on, interactive experience, with exhibits focusing on pollution prevention, environmental stewardship and marine conservation, the Aquarium instills the wonder of discovery of the marine environment, inspiring conservation and stewardship.
“We are very fortunate to have Heather Doyle join Heal the Bay’s staff as director of our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium,” said Todd Flora, chair of the Aquarium’s advisory board and a member of Heal the Bay’s board of directors. “She brings expertise in community building, enthusiasm for and knowledge of marine biology and the ocean environment and a passion for science education that will serve the organization well.”
“I am very excited to join the team and at such an opportune time with the array of public and private revitalization projects beginning on and around the Pier,” Doyle said. “Heal the Bay is a wonderful organization that has done amazing things locally and I hope to add to that list of achievements during my tenure.”
