Kayleigh Everhart, who participated in the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s (SkIO) Semester at Skidaway program in fall 2024 and received a bachelor’s degree in ocean science from the Department of Marine Sciences at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, is now working as an educator at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, South Carolina. Everhart is originally from Kennesaw, Georgia.
SkIO: Tell us about your role as an educator at the South Carolina Aquarium. What does a typical day (or week) look like?
Kayleigh Everhart (KE): My role as an educator typically revolves around communicating with guests. Though I can generally be found on the aquarium floor throughout a shift, there’s no such thing as a “typical day” here — which is one of the great parts about the job! I lead a different program every day, where I could be hosting an interactive show with a scuba diver in our Great Ocean Tank, live animal programs where guests can meet one of our ambassador animals, feedings for our stingrays, and much more. I get to interact with both the local community and guests from all over the world, and teach them about our animals, our conservation efforts, and the ocean as a whole. I also participate in our outreach efforts, traveling around South Carolina to bring some of our aquarium animals and programs to schools, festivals and more. I get to try new ideas, create new programs, and teach people about the coolest thing in the world — the ocean!
SkIO: What are the most rewarding parts of being an educator at the South Carolina Aquarium?
KE: I love when I teach someone something they’ve never learned before, and I especially love watching them become interested in it. We can’t protect and conserve something until we learn about it — which is why education is so important. Getting to interact with the local community and speak to people about conservation and how they can help our ecosystems is definitely one of my favorite parts of the job. Encouraging someone to be involved, making a tangible impact on their lives and our local wildlife — it is incredibly rewarding for me.
SkIO: What inspired your love of marine science?
KE: I’ve always loved the ocean and have wanted to work in marine sciences for a long time. Knowing how important our oceans and marine ecosystems are to the health of the planet, and understanding the consequences of losing those, have encouraged me to continue down that path into a career. I want to do everything I can to conserve our oceans, and I want other people to feel the same, which is why I chose education.
SkIO: How did your time at SkIO/UGA influence your career path and prepare you for where you are today?
KE: My time at SkIO was absolutely a turning point for me. When I arrived for the semester, I wasn’t sure how I wanted to shape my career. Being on the water, getting hands-on research experience and getting to see beyond the theoretical aspects of my classes helped me solidify what exactly I wanted my life to look like and how I wanted to make my own impact.
SkIO: For current students and/or recent graduates interested in marine education/outreach work, what advice would you give them?
KE: Get involved! There are so many ways to be a leader in your community. Volunteer work is an excellent way to get into education, and there are lots of facilities that can help you get started, from zoos and aquariums to wildlife and conservation centers. I would also say to find your niche. What are you most interested in? What aspects of marine science could you talk to someone about for hours? There are so many organizations and facilities out there that can help you, and you can bring something new to them.
SkIO: What do you do for fun, outside of work?
KE: There’s a park near my apartment with a trail that I like to take walks at, or just set up a blanket to read on the grass. If I have the time, I also like to head to the beach early in the morning to look for shark teeth at low tide.
About SkIO
The UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography (SkIO) is a multidisciplinary research and education institution located on Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia. The Institute was founded in 1967 with a mission to conduct research in all fields of oceanography. In 2013, SkIO was merged with the University of Georgia. The campus serves as a gateway to coastal and marine environments for programs throughout the University System. The Institute’s primary goals are to further the understanding of marine and environmental processes, conduct leading-edge research on coastal and marine systems, and train tomorrow’s scientists.