Welcome, Ailia Coley!

USC Sea Grant would like to welcome our newest staff member, Ailia Coley!

Ailia serves as our program’s Fiscal Officer and Department of Contracts and Grants Coordinator. She comes to USC Sea Grant with over 15 years of combined experience in administrative operations, program coordination, and organizational support.

Her work has focused on improving systems, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring programs run efficiently while also supporting broader community impact. She enjoys building structure behind meaningful work and helping translate big ideas into sustainable processes. 

Ailia’s experience in higher education cultivated a desire to learn how organizations work from the inside out, which led to her earning a postgraduate degree in Organizational Management from Antioch University. 

Before joining Sea Grant, Ailia worked for Los Angeles County and the USC Environmental Studies Department in administrative and operations roles supporting education and program-focused organizations, helping teams improve coordination, streamline processes, and work more effectively across departments.

Ailia says she is “excited to contribute to work that connects research, education, and community and looks forward to supporting initiatives that protect coastal environments, while making science more accessible and meaningful to the communities it serves.” Ailia knows that the greatest challenge of her position with USC Sea Grant will be balancing multiple priorities across programs and maintaining efficiency and clear communication. But she also thinks this is what makes this work engaging and rewarding. Ailia loves USC’s collaborative energy and commitment to innovation. USC has a strong culture of learning and purpose, and it’s inspiring to work with people who are passionate about making an impact in the world.

Since Ailia is now with USC Sea Grant, we felt the need to ask her what her favorite ocean animal was. “The octopus,” says Ailia. “They are intelligent, adaptable, and their unmatched problem-solving abilities are fascinating. They are a great reminder that some of the most complex systems operate quietly beneath the surface.

Please say hello to Ailia in person or virtually when you have a chance. We are so grateful to have her as part of our team!