Phyllis Grifman Receives Multiple Sanctuary Leadership Awards

Los Angeles- We are excited to share that USC Sea Grant Associate Director, Phyllis Grifman, was awarded the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) Advisory Council 2020 Leadership Award in April 2021. The Sanctuary Advisory Council leadership award recognizes an individual that has not only gone above and beyond the normal call of duty with regard to dedicated service, but has done so in a way that helps others to contribute meaningfully, to be heard and understood, and to feel comfortable and safe engaging in public discourse about important sanctuary management issues. With 2020 consisting of the onset of the pandemic and other difficult events over the course of the year, there was never a more challenging and important time for this kind of leadership and the Advisory Council pays recognition to Grifman’s ability to find a way to come together, virtually, to create a much-needed connection among members. Through her leadership, the sanctuary staff stayed steady, calm, reassuring, comforting, and empathetic during these tough times.

Further, the Council honors Grifman’s efforts to raise awareness and seek change within the National Marine Sanctuary system, promoting discussions focused on identifying ways to welcome a greater diversity of participants to advisory councils. She carried this message nationally, conducting working sessions with leaders of the Sanctuary Advisory Councils from across the nation that resulted in many new ideas that are now being implemented.

Grifman has a long-standing relationship with the Channel Islands. As stated by CINMS, “during her studies at UC Santa Barabara, Phyllis participated in conflict resolution efforts related to fishing, oil development, and marine mammal interactions in the Santa Barbara Channel. A lifelong boater, she has had the opportunity to both work and recreate at the islands off California and has a deep appreciation for the rich resources of both the land and waters.”

Phyllis has served on the CINMS Advisory Council for 15 years. In 2020, she was reappointed to the CINMS Sanctuary Advisory Council in the research seat and her roles expanded to now chair the Research Activities Panel. Previously she held the “public at large” seat for several years, and has served as vice-chair and now chair. She also chaired the “Marine Shipping Working Group,” a multi-stakeholder effort to address the problem of ship strikes on whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and approaching the Ports of LA and Long Beach. She shares that “The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is a place of amazing beauty and abundant natural resources, right in the “backyard” of Southern California’s urban metropolis. Helping to protect those resources while allowing the public to appreciate and enjoy the Sanctuary is a true privilege.”

Additionally, Phyllis was honored for these exemplifying volunteer efforts in June 2021 when she was awarded the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) Volunteer of the Year for 2021. This award, given each year by NMSF, shines a light on the invaluable role of volunteers in our national marine sanctuaries. It is provided to selected volunteer individuals or team efforts across the 14 sites of the sanctuary foundation system who made an outstanding contribution to their sanctuary and the entire sanctuary system, in a way for NMSF to acknowledge the efforts of individuals who donate their time and energy to help protect and conserve America’s underwater treasures to safeguard them no and for future generations.

To view more information about Ms. Grifman’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award, click here.

To learn more about the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, visit https://channelislands.noaa.gov/.