Dr. Erika Zollett | Executive Director
Email: support@cuel.ucsb.edu
Biography
Dr. Erika Zollett has served as Executive Director of the Greti U. Croft Center for Undergraduate Environmental Leadership (CUEL) since 2023. Since joining UCSB in 2019, she has led the Environmental Leadership Incubator (ELI), now housed within CUEL, and develops programs and instruction that help undergraduates transition from the classroom to environmental careers.
Prior to UCSB, Dr. Zollett spent more than a decade in environmental consulting. As a Senior Marine Scientist at MRAG Americas, she worked with diverse stakeholder groups to apply science-based, innovative solutions to complex fisheries management challenges. Her expertise includes protected species bycatch and marine mammal conservation.
Beyond UCSB, Dr. Zollett is active in local ocean conservation and environmental education initiatives. Through a NOAA-funded Ocean Guardian program and a Sustainability Committee at a local elementary school, she has helped advance projects including the elimination of single-use plastic utensils, the launch of student composting programs, and broader ocean-health education efforts. The student group received the Explore Ecology Environmental Stewardship Award at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival in 2019 and 2024. She also served on the Board of Directors and as Fundraising Chair of the Santa Barbara Sea Shell Association, a volunteer-led organization that has introduced young people to sailing, environmental stewardship, and community engagement for more than 75 years.
Dr. Zollett earned a B.S. from Bates College, a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources, with a Cognate in College Teaching, from the University of New Hampshire.