Matt DePaolis

With a master’s in marine biology and a Juris Doctorate with a focus on ocean and coastal law from the University of Oregon, Matt DePaolis discovered SCCF while working as a Coastal Policy Analyst Fellow at the University of Florida’s Center for Coastal Solutions (CSS). He previously encountered the region’s coastal habitats while surveying ghost crabs on Sanibel and researching coral DNA as an intern at Mote Marine Lab.

As SCCF Environmental Policy Director, DePaolis brings his combined expertise in environmental law and marine biology to an organization that bases its policy and advocacy efforts on science. He leads SCCF’s Environmental Policy team, including Research & Policy Associate Leah Reidenbach, Hydrologic Modeler Paul Julian, Ph.D., Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D., and Policy Associate Holly Schwartz.

Prior to his role at CSS, DePaolis researched climate litigation and fisheries policy issues for the United Nations. While in Oregon, he served as a legal associate at the Wild Salmon Center, evaluating regulations to protect water quality in streams, and worked as a fellow at the Ocean and Coastal Law Center, recommending solutions to marine plastic pollution.