Victoria Panuccio (MA, 2026)
Victoria Panuccio graduated from the University of Oregon in 2023, where she studied General Social Science with a concentration in Crime, Law, and Society and Forensic Anthropology. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a unique interest in forensic anthropology and shark attacks on human remains. After returning to her hometown of Setauket, Long Island, New York, Victoria enrolled as a part-time student in Stony Brook University’s Marine Conservation and Policy (MCP) program in 2024 to pursue her growing interest in shark research and transition into the field of marine science.
While completing her degree, she gained hands-on experience in marine education and outreach, working part-time as an Environmental Educator at the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) and full-time as a Marine Biologist Educator at The WaterFront Center in Oyster Bay. During her first year in the MCP program, she also worked as the program's social media and content creator, highlighting student experiences, alumni achievements, and opportunities in the program. In addition, she helped Marissa DeBonis on the undergraduate course The Jaws Effect, which explores the influence of shark-related media and public perceptions of sharks, and volunteered for Sharks for Kids at the Jones Beach Nature Center on their shark week event.
In her second year, Victoria traveled to the Bahamas for the MCP program's study abroad course at the Bimini Biological Field Station, aka the Shark Lab. During that experience, she snorkeled with several shark species, learned about field research techniques, and presented the importance of shark nursery habitats. As the MCP content creator, Victoria documented the experience by producing a documentary-style video showcasing the course, its research opportunities, and the field course experience available to future MCP students. For her internship, Victoria spent more than four weeks with the Oceans Research Institute (ORI) in Mossel Bay, South Africa. Under the mentorship of Dr. Oliver Shipley at SBU and the supervision of ORI founder and director Dr. Enrico Gennari, she gained field experience participating in several ongoing marine research projects. Her primary focus was ORI’s White Shark Population Dynamics Project, which has been ongoing since 2001. She participated in boat-based surveys to monitor white shark presence, demographics, and behavior. To learn more about her internship experience, visit Capstone Projects and Internships.
Following graduation in 2026, Victoria transitioned from her student position with
SoMAS into a part-time state role at Stony Brook University as a Community Relations
Assistant. She continues to create digital and social media content for the MCP program,
helping communicate the program's opportunities and showcase the experiences of its
students and alumni. She also continues working at The WaterFront Center, where her
role extends well beyond marine education. In addition to developing marine science
lesson plans and teaching students about local marine ecosystems, she contributes
to aquarium maintenance and animal husbandry, works aboard two historic vessels, dives
to clean boats in preparation for regattas, and participates in fishing charters.
“The best part of my job is that I am constantly learning something new… I get to
explore so many different areas of marine science that you can’t replicate anywhere
else. Every day brings a new opportunity to build my skills, challenge myself, and
discover something else I love about this field.”
Victoria emphasizes the flexibility the MCP program offers to students to shape their education around individual interests and career goals. “Most classes allow you to tailor assignments to specific research interests, and the program allowed me to pursue an internship anywhere in the world and encouraged me to explore many paths available within marine conservation and policy…The MCP program opened doors I never would have imagined for myself.”
