Grayson Holley
Gulf Shores,Alabama
Summary
Passionate graduate student in marine conservation and resource management dedicated to advancing conservation and environmental policy. Experienced in research, fieldwork, and community outreach, with a strong interest in supporting initiatives that protect coastal ecosystems and strengthen environmental resilience.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
NERR Intern
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
01.2025 - Current
- Collaborated with the Stewardship Coordinator to prepare and deploy acoustic monitoring equipment for tracking and identifying bird and bat species.
- Developed and posted educational content on the reserve's Instagram and Facebook pages, highlighting ongoing conservation efforts and raising public awareness.
- Assisted the Research and Monitoring Technician in deploying and retrieving data loggers from four sites in Weeks Bay for water quality data collection.
- Worked with a team to gather sediment cores and water quality samples from both vegetated and non-vegetated sites.
- Assisted staff with school field trips by helping manage groups and prepare materials.
- Provided daily care and feeding for live exhibit animals including hermit crabs, fish, toads, frogs, and snakes at the Weeks Bay Visitor Center.
Kennel Technician
Langston Animal Hospital
08.2023 - 08.2025
- Provided basic care for boarding and hospitalized animals, including feeding, bathing, and monitoring behavior.
- Positioned animals for diagnostic imaging such as x-rays and scans.
- Aided in daily clinic operations by preparing treatment areas and assisting with animal restraint during procedures.
- Prepared surgical instrument packs and drapes for use in sterile environments by processing in autoclave.
- Performed daily cleaning tasks including laundry, sweeping, mopping, and sanitizing animal enclosures and common areas.
Kennel Assistant
Animal Care Veterinary Hospital
10.2022 - 02.2023
- Administered care for animals and reported signs of illness and injury to superiors.
- Monitored and maintained the food and water for boarded animals.
- Kept cages, kennels, play yards, and grooming areas neat and clean.
- Recorded information such as feeding schedules, appearance, and behavior of boarded or hospitalized patients to monitor their stay.
- Stocked kennel and cleaning supplies to maintain proper inventory for daily performance.
Receptionist
Safari Pet Resort
09.2021 - 08.2022
- Confirmed appointments, communicated with clients, and updated client records. Resolved customer problems and complaints.
- Managed multiple tasks and met time-sensitive deadlines.
- Corresponded with clients through email, telephone, and in-person.
- Collected and processed payments.
- Maintained strong relationships with clients.
Research Assistant
Middle Tennessee State University
05.2021 - 08.2021
- Assisted faculty members with research assignments on a USDA Watershed project.
- Collaborated with others in a team-based environment.
- Gathered, arranged, and corrected research data.
- Cataloged data and research from Excel into ArcMap.
- Created a final presentation.
Education
Master of Science - Marine Conservation and Resource Management
University of South Alabama
Mobile, AL05-2026
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)
Murfreesboro, TN05.2022
Skills
- Research Skills
- Strong Communication Skills
- Data Management
- Teamwork & Reliability
- Social Media and Digital Outreach
- Field Work
- Microsoft Office
- Science Communication
- RStudio
- Data visualization (charts, infographics)
Timeline
NERR Intern
Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
01.2025 - Current
Kennel Technician
Langston Animal Hospital
08.2023 - 08.2025
Kennel Assistant
Animal Care Veterinary Hospital
10.2022 - 02.2023
Receptionist
Safari Pet Resort
09.2021 - 08.2022
Research Assistant
Middle Tennessee State University
05.2021 - 08.2021
Master of Science - Marine Conservation and Resource Management
University of South Alabama
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)