The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Because she cannot be in a dozen places at the same time, the telephone is Mary Conley’s lifeline. As Southeast Region Marine Conservation Director, she leads the development and implementation of marine conservation planning across the region, including steering roles with the Carolinian Ecoregion Initiative and the multi-state South Atlantic Alliance. She earned a master’s in marine science from the University of Texas and joined TNC in 2005.

 

Nature.org:

Mary Conley:

As a kid, I think it was a fascination with the unusual and unknown. First it was the sky, and I was going to be an astronomer. Then it turned to the ocean. Family trips to the coast, scuba lessons, and a love of water sealed the deal.

Nature.org:

Mary Conley:

Does sinking in pluff mud count?

Nature.org:

Mary Conley:

I spent my grad school years in a basement lab identifying benthic worms down to species, determining sediment grain size using large graduated cylinders and Dawn dishwashing liquid, folding tiny aluminum foil cubes to run chemical analyses -- all while listening to honky tonk music. And folks wonder how I moved into the policy side of marine conservation.

Nature.org:

Mary Conley:

I started relearning how to play the cello a few years ago. It was something I had always regretted giving up in middle school. I am probably back to my middle school playing level. I need lessons!