Bayleigh Albert: Cultivating a passion for science communication

At William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS, Bayleigh Albert M.A. ’26 found a supportive community — including a quartet of inspiring female mentors — as well as educational travel opportunities and the chance to hone her passion for science communication. As one of six M.A. students graduating in 2026, her capstone project informed the public about harmful algal blooms using a range of outreach strategies. Albert, who completed her graduate studies in January, is now employed as a digital storyteller for Virginia Sea Grant, which is headquartered at the Batten School & VIMS.

Here’s what Albert had to say about her time at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS:

On choosing the Batten School & VIMS:

Growing up in Gloucester, I was always drawn to the water. I graduated from William & Mary with a self-designed major that I called "Conservation & Creative Media," which meant building my own class program and double majoring in Environment & Sustainability. In undergrad, I realized that science communication — blending biology with creativity, photography and storytelling — was actually a career, and the M.A. program at the Batten School & VIMS let me really tailor that path.

On the supportive community:

What’s really special about the Batten School & VIMS is that everyone genuinely wants to see you succeed and will do everything they can to help you find opportunities. After interning here as an undergrad, coming back to the community was a huge draw as a grad student. That's what sets the Batten School apart from other programs: everyone knows and supports each other. If someone can’t help you, they’ll connect you to someone who can, and you end up exactly where you’re meant to be.

On her most memorable moments:

I’ve been able to do a lot — assistantship, fellowship, communications manager for the Society for Women in Marine Science at VIMS, secretary for the Aquaculture Collective — but getting to travel has been really special. I said from the start I wanted those opportunities, and the Batten School & VIMS made it happen, from New Orleans to New England and even Scotland. Being part of campus events and the Batten School’s largest cohort, the first to enter with the "Batten" name, has been just as memorable. It really does feel like a family that shows up and shows out for each other.

On invaluable mentorship:

I was mentored by Nicole Millette in the Phytoplankton Ecology Lab, Molly Mitchell as program director, Lisa Lawrence through my assistantship and Brookie Crawford at the Virginia Department of Health — and every single one of them showed up for me. Whether it was reading drafts, finding funding or opening other doors, they made time. And they were all accomplished women, which was just really powerful to see and be surrounded by as role models for working hard and succeeding in a male-dominated field.

On her primary field of study:

My capstone was communicating harmful algal blooms to the public using different outreach strategies and filling this gap of accessible information in Virginia. Because phytoplankton are microscopic, people don’t always know why it matters. So, I created social media posts with the Virginia Department of Health, physical signs with QR codes at local beaches, a hands-on display with little water tanks and Secchi discs and a six-part science communication guide to help researchers share their work beyond a paywall.

On what’s next:

I accepted a position at Virginia Sea Grant as their digital storyteller. In this position, I am writing stories, taking photographs, doing videography and running our various social media accounts. I get to tell the story of the impact that Virginia Sea Grant makes through funding different events and people doing important work.

On advice for new graduate students:

Live in the moment and be proud of what you’ve done. It’s so easy to focus on the next assignment, the next step, that you forget you worked really hard to get here. Stop, breathe, reflect. And say yes; take advantage of every opportunity. If funding is the issue, find it. If opportunities aren’t coming to you, seek them out. Grad school is a really special window to explore, and you’re qualified to go for the things that interest you.

This alumni profile was published in April, 2026.