Sabrina Severin

Sabrina Severin, Conservation Manager, Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI)

As a first-time mentor and program lead at CWORI, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from hosting a Navigating Home Fellow. But what I found was that bringing Marissa onto our team didn’t just add extra help—it shifted the dynamic in meaningful, energizing ways.

Marissa approached every task with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a readiness to contribute. Her presence immediately lifted the team’s spirits. As a small nonprofit working across multiple reef sites in the Virgin Islands National Park, our capacity is always stretched. Having someone so eager to dive into the work—literally and figuratively—helped us expand what we were able to accomplish on our grant-funded projects.

We intentionally gave Marissa the same responsibilities and experiences as our full-time team. From coral fragmentation and dive operations to computer-based monitoring and nursery care, she quickly became fluent in our daily operations. What was most rewarding was watching her confidence grow to the point where she began mentoring our new interns—passing along the knowledge and skills she had gained.

This experience also pushed me to think more deeply about how to build structure and consistency into our fellowship and internship programs. While I’m still learning how to create that balance, hosting a Fellow encouraged our staff to slow down, explain more, and include emerging professionals in meaningful ways.

Mentoring through the Navigating Home program has given me the chance to grow alongside the Fellow I support. It’s been a reminder that mentorship isn’t just about teaching—it’s also about building a more collaborative, supportive, and intentional work environment.

Hosting a Fellow didn’t just expand our capacity—it made me a better manager. It reminded me that mentorship is just as much about growth for the mentor as it is for the mentee.