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Naomi Heilen '27
CRP Student Researcher
Majors:
Coastal and Marine Science and Biology
Biography
Naomi Heilen ’27 grew up active and immersed in the outdoors through team sports and frequent hiking and camping with her family. This early connection developed into a strong appreciation for the natural environment and a commitment to protecting it, which she now pursues through her studies in Coastal & Marine Sciences and Biology. Naomi developed a passion for fieldwork through trail restoration volunteering, field courses at VIMS, and independent research in Dr. Skelton’s eDNA lab, where she studies aquatic fungal community responses to dam removals. Her work reflects an interest in understanding environmental responses to human impacts and contributing to solution-oriented conservation research.
She enjoys connecting people with nature through her role as a trip leader with the Tribe Adventure Program and builds community as a member of 91心頭利’s Cypress ultimate frisbee team. Naomi looks forward to bringing her ecological background, field experience, and collaborative spirit to the Conservation Research Program and hopes to build a career focused on sustainable solutions to climate change.