Dr. Eric Wade (Principal Investigator) is an interdisciplinary environmental social scientist currently an assistant professor in the Department of Coastal Studies at East Carolina University. From Belize, his research and teaching program is motivated by his lived experiences growing up in the Caribbean and its vulnerability to growing demands on our natural resources. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Master's in Fisheries Science from Oregon State University. Eric has previously worked for the Belize Fisheries Department, Oceana Belize, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
In his scholarship, outreach, and teaching, Dr. Wade is committed to furthering the voices of other underrepresented groups in academia and natural resources management. He has used his experiences to draw attention to the struggles and fight of other underrepresented groups not only inside and outside of academia.
When he is not working, Eric enjoys going to the gym, exploring new hiking locations, beach volleyball, and trying new restaurants.
In his scholarship, outreach, and teaching, Dr. Wade is committed to furthering the voices of other underrepresented groups in academia and natural resources management. He has used his experiences to draw attention to the struggles and fight of other underrepresented groups not only inside and outside of academia.
When he is not working, Eric enjoys going to the gym, exploring new hiking locations, beach volleyball, and trying new restaurants.
Zack Shepard (Ph.D. Student) is originally from Wilmington, NC, coming from a family of small-scale fishers. He spent 5 years in the military, focusing on aircraft-related work that sharpened his critical thinking skills. Zack earned his bachelor's degree in anthropology and environmental studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). After a summer off, he started his master's studies in anthropology at East Carolina University (ECU). His thesis involved using stable isotopes as ecological tracers to better understand primate feeding ecology. Zack is currently a Ph.D. student within the Integrated Coastal Science Program at ECU. He will be employing both his natural and social science background to better understand what factors influence decision-making among fishers and within coastal and marine spaces. Zack is an avid audiophile with a profound love for music, and he boasts a collection of vinyl records.
Zack was recently appointed as an predoctoral fellowship with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Institute. This fellowship will support Zack's dissertation research in Belize.
Zack was recently appointed as an predoctoral fellowship with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Institute. This fellowship will support Zack's dissertation research in Belize.
Colbie Bond (Undergraduate Research Assistant) is currently an undergraduate student at East Carolina University, working towards a major in Environmental Studies and minors in Political Science and Coastal and Marine Studies. She was raised in southeastern North Carolina in a small agricultural community. With experience in agriculture, she hopes to work towards sustainability in coastal agriculture communities or on environmental policy in the future. Colbie has been working with the Wade Research group since January of 2023 and enjoys learning and researching the social relations present in coastal communities. She hopes to use the experience that she is gaining to better understand social science research. In her free time Colbie likes to hang out with her family and friends and spend time hunting, boating, or trying new sports.