Laurie McConnico is a tenured biology professor at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, CA. She earned her BS in Biology from UC San Diego, MS in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Labs, and PhD in Marine and Coastal Studies from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, México. Laurie is trained as a Marine Biologist/ Ecologist with a specialty in seaweeds. Her work in the field of marine science has led to research experiences in California, Florida, Alaska, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Costa Rica and México. Laurie teaches marine biology, ecology, organismal biology, and a range of field courses that take her students to the Sierra Nevada, Channel Islands, Big Sur, and Baja CA, México. Her passion for field studies and research in marine biology helped launch several research courses for undergraduates at Cuesta College. In her free time, Laurie enjoys traveling, hiking, exploring the outdoors, and most all water activities, when the water is warm!