Courtney is dedicated to sparking public and political support for the protection of marine ecosystems. With a Master of Arts in environmental studies from Brown University, she has a deep understanding of marine conservation science and policy—particularly regarding coral reef ecosystems—and believes in finding creative ways to bring ocean issues above the surface to inspire conservation. Courtney works as Special Projects Consultant for Mission Blue—an ocean conservation organization founded by famed oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle—and is also a prominent environmental artist. She was born and raised in San Francisco and lives in Los Angeles.