Marcia Taylor, M.S., M. Ed. (Marine Science) has been an extension agent on St. Croix since October 1991. A Virgin Islands resident since 1978, Marcia was a dive instructor before working for the V. I. Government in its Department of Planning and Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division.  Following 13 years of supervising the water quality monitoring office, she came to VIMAS.  An alumna of the University of Connecticut, she completed her graduate work both at Southeastern Massachusetts University and the University of the Virgin Islands.  Her research interests include tropical marine algae and coral reef ecology. Marcia is also involved in outreach education. Her current projects include tropical marine resources, wetland ecology and Nonpoint Source (NPS) water pollution.

Elizabeth Ban, M.E.M., (Conservation Biology) has served as the St. Thomas/St. John extension agent since April 2004. Prior to her arrival in St. Thomas, Elizabeth worked as a Research Analyst for VIMAS - St. Croix. After graduating from William Smith College, Elizabeth worked for a number of years in the advertising industry. Following a vacation in the Virgin Islands, she made a career change, becoming the Public Information Supervisor at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago while simultaneously earning a Certificate in Environmental Policy from Loyola University - Chicago. She completed her graduate work at Yale University before being awarded a fellowship at the Office of Ocean and Coastal Development and International Programs Office with NOAA, where she provided analysis on Caribbean marine protection issues. Elizabeth's current projects include developing education outreach programs on St. Thomas and St. John, and analyzing the benefits of marine protected areas. Additionally, Elizabeth writes a weekly marine affairs column for

Emily Tyner, B.A. (Biology) has been a Research Analyst for VIMAS-St. Croix since January 2007. She recently graduated from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts with degrees in biology and marine sciences and concentration in education. Her research at Smith included coral reef health surveys in the Bahamas and Belize. She led a long-term environmental education summer program on Ambergris Caye, Belize. Emily’s current projects include research on coral disease, sedimentation, and fish populations, and educational outreach on topics including Nonpoint Source water pollution, marine ecosystems, coral health, and environmental philosophy.