Susan Frett

Since visiting the ocean as a child, she has been passionate about protecting the ocean and all the creatures living within it. After earning a bachelor’s in environmental science with a water quality focus from the University of Iowa, Susan worked in environmental consulting. After a few years of that work, plus owning and operating a family construction business, she returned to graduate school at the Nelson Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning a master’s degree in environmental conservation. Susan then worked for 3.5 years at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Office of Applied Science on the Snapshot Wisconsin project.

Through this work, Susan helped to launch and maintain one of the largest citizen science projects in the country, as her primary role was training and coordinating the volunteers for this project. Since moving to Maui in early 2020, Susan has worked as the Community Engagement Coordinator at Maui Invasive Species Committee, primarily on the Community Coqui Control project, empowering Maui community members to work to control invasive coqui frogs in their own backyards. Her professional goals are to empower others to take action to protect and conserve the environment and she is thrilled to be able to do this work at Pacific Whale Foundation! Susan has been a member of PWF for several years (thank you, Susan!!), ever since first visiting and falling in love with Maui in 2013. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband Pat, her dog Oscar at the beach, learning about and trying to grow native plants and scuba diving to explore more of our lovely island home.