Sarah Mesnick, Ph.D. is Institutional board affiliate of NOAA, Southwest Research Board where she has held an appointment as an Ecologist since 2003. She obtained a Ph.D.in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Arizona. Previous appointments include Diversity Advisor and Academic Administrator with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego; National Research Council Senior Research Associate.

Research interests and publications cover sperm whale population structure, vaquita conservation, sea lion phylogeography and sexual selection in fishes. She founded the University of Arizona Marine Awareness Program, which continues to use the CEDO field station for classes.