{"id":7596,"date":"2021-11-10T15:52:26","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T20:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/?p=7596"},"modified":"2026-05-12T12:21:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T16:21:48","slug":"eckerd-sophomore-joins-mexico-marine-mammal-conservation-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/eckerd-sophomore-joins-mexico-marine-mammal-conservation-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Eckerd sophomore joins Mexico\u2019s first marine mammal conservation center"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extraa-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”7640″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”][vc_column_text]Sophomore Aidan McKinnon is helping Mexico\u2019s first marine mammal conservation center, which aims to rescue, rehabilitate and release stranded marine mammals and sea turtles found in the Pacific, the Gulf of California and Mexico. Photo: Angelique Herring ’19<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Aidan McKinnon was cruising through the images on Instagram when she stumbled across it. Three time zones, a different country and a different language away. But it was exactly what she was looking for.<\/h3>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\u201cI was trying to find out what I was going to do with my life,\u201d explains Aidan, an Eckerd College sophomore marine science<\/a> and Spanish<\/a> student from Edmond, Oklahoma. \u201cI always loved rescuing and rehabbing animals, and I knew I could do something close to home. But I also knew, deep down, that I wanted to do something really different.\u201d<\/p>\n

This would be it.<\/p>\n

What Aidan found that day back in late August was Centro de Rescate (Rescue Center), Mexico\u2019s first marine mammal conservation center. A nonprofit organization located in La Paz, a city along the Gulf of California, the Center\u2019s aim is to rescue, rehabilitate and release stranded marine mammals and sea turtles found in the Pacific, the Gulf of California and from all over Mexico, according to the group\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Perfect. But there was still that little matter of getting on board. \u201cI spent a good hour researching them, and then, for whatever reason, I was feeling particularly bold that day, so I emailed them. I told them I was just a random sophomore at this small liberal arts college in Florida. But I loved their program.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”7639″ image_size=”full” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]She didn\u2019t think anything would come of it. A short time later, however, one of the Center\u2019s directors emailed back. A Zoom meeting was arranged. She and members of the Center\u2019s senior staff talked for about two hours. (Several staff members are bilingual, as is Aidan.) One of their biggest problems, she was told, was that the Center had been trying to ramp up its community outreach, \u201cbut their staff was not well versed in social media,\u201d Aidan says. \u201cSo I showed them what I knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

The staff was impressed. The Center offered to let Aidan create its childhood education program, and she jumped at the chance. Now she is collecting materials and activities to go out to families with children and other groups. She works as a volunteer, and because the Center is relatively new (2018) and in a country where marine conservation efforts are sometimes seen by the fishing community as an infringement on their livelihood, she has a lot of work to do.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”lg_text” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\u201cIt\u2019s hard right now trying to help the public understand the actual mission,\u201d she says. \u201cThat we\u2019re just trying to take care of these animals and the water they live in. We\u2019re not trying to stop people from doing their work on the water.\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Funding also is a challenge, she says, partly because the Center is still formulating its overall plan. \u201cWe\u2019re still laying the ground rules for the organization,\u201d she says. \u201cThere is no model. We\u2019re creating the model. But that\u2019s what makes it so exciting.<\/p>\n

So far, all of her interactions with the Center have been virtual, something Aidan hopes to change sometime soon. \u201cI would love to go to La Paz and meet everyone and see the facility,\u201d she says. \u201cRight now, COVID is putting a damper on that. I just have to work with the cards I was dealt. I\u2019m fully content to go virtual as long as I have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

William Szelistowski, Ph.D.<\/a>, associate professor of biology<\/a> and marine science and Aidan\u2019s mentor, says it was her initiative that he found remarkable. \u201cShe went out and got it on her own,\u201d he says. \u201cI knew she was looking for something. She found it, and she landed the position. That was really impressive. This opportunity is right up her alley.\u201d<\/p>\n

And to think, Aidan says, that it all started because she felt a little daring that day in August.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019d told me before August I would end up doing this,\u201d she adds, \u201cI would have said, \u2018No way.\u2019 But now, I couldn\u2019t be happier. I have all these ideas \u2026 but then I remember it\u2019s going to take time. They [the Center] are the first to be there. We want to make sure everything is done by the book.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, we\u2019re writing the book.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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