Jasmine “Jas” Mendiola is from the Dipwinmen Clan of Pohnpei. She describes herself as having mixed Micronesian roots – her family being Kosraean, Pohnpeian, Marshallese and Chamorro, while Pohnpei has always been home. For the Dipwinmen clan, Jas explains, “our totem is the sabre squirrel fish. So I think I was really meant to end up in this career.”
Jas brings around a decade of experience in marine science, conservation and program implementation. In her new role, she will guide the Collective’s strategic direction, strengthen support for its partners and help expand its reach across the Pacific.
Jas studied marine science at the College of Micronesia before undertaking undergraduate research internships at the University of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Community (SPC). She has worked at the Marine and Environmental Research Institute of Pohnpei (MERIP), Rare, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the National Oceanic Resource Marine Authority (NORMA) as well as work with the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) in various roles focused on fisheries and marine conservation. Most recently, Jas was the Director of Operations for the Conservation Society of Pohnpei. These experiences have shown her that effective conservation begins with the people who depend most directly on the ocean.