Todd Hallenbeck will complete his master’s degree in Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy this spring. A San Jose native, Hallenbeck is also the recipient of a Sea-Grant West Coast Governor’s Agreement Fellowship.

This fellowship allows him to work with state and federal agencies for two years, implementing progressive regional marine policy off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington.

Hallenbeck’s master’s thesis, concerning the distribution of biological communities in soft sediment habitats of Monterey Bay, helped prepare him for that challenge.

“This will be an incredible opportunity to witness firsthand how science translates to policy,” Hallenbeck said, “and will put to good use all the skills and experiences I have gained from being at CSUMB.”