Gandulla says farewell to Alpena, headed to Lake Ontario
Grateful for community connections and conservation work
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ALPENA -- Stephanie Gandulla is saying farewell to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) and assuming the superintendent role at the new sanctuary along the shores of Lake Ontario, based in Oswego, New York.
The Lake Ontario sanctuary is the third fresh water sanctuary in the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) system. TBNMS in Alpena was the first fresh water NOAA sanctuary established in 2000.
The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary was established in October 2021and stretches across a 962-square-mile area from Port Washington north to Two Rivers in Wisconsin.
The Lake Ontario sanctuary encompasses a 1,722-square mile area, including parts of Oswego, Jefferson, Cayuga, and Wayne counties in New York.
Gandulla officially assumed her role as superintendent on Wednesday though she is currently in a transition role at TBNMS before she makes the big move. TBNMS Superintendent Jeff Gray was the acting superintendent in Lake Ontario before Gandulla was chosen.
Gandulla has been at TBNMS since 2010, and though she is not a native Northeast Michigan resident, she said she's become one in the last 16 years. She also said that she has appreciated the opportunity to work across TBNMS in various roles and support staff in community outreach efforts.
"I have been very fortunate to have been here since 2010 and also very fortunate that because of our small team, small but mighty team, the way we really enjoy getting work done here is everybody chipping in, in really all aspects."
"I’ve really enjoyed being able to do some of everything here," she added.
Gandulla said she's especially enjoyed working with the community's youth in various education programs.
"How neat it has been for me personally to see alpena kids, that I've worked with when they were in grade school and then to see them go into the Alpena High School’s Shipwreck Alley class ... see what they’re doing, whether it’s Michigan Sea Grant internships, or NOAA internships, and then see how they’re doing today and working in our world’s ocean and other places in the Great Lakes doing marine science or marine technology."
"I can say, 'Oh my gosh, I remember when they were here at the visitor center and climbing through the tubes or participating in the student film festival and now they’re out making a difference in protecting our special places underwater."
She also said that she's enjoyed making connections with the community and partnering with organizations for outreach.
"Working with all sorts of different partners, everything from our veteran programs to the Viking cruise ships and all those and local partners ... all the other cultural institutions," Gandulla said. "That’s such a neat part of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is how engaged ... I have a reason to go out and connect with people."
She added that she's enjoyed working with volunteers over the years and has enjoyed the collaborative environment of TBNMS.
Gray said that TBNMS will miss Gandulla but that she is a good fit for the new sanctuary on Lake Ontario. He noted that the work that TBNMS has done and the community support has encouraged and inspired other communities to adopt fresh water sanctuaries, as well.
"It’s pretty amazing that Thunder Bay was the 1st one, but I think it’s really what’s happening in this community, what the community’s done with us," Gray said. "It’s help inspire these other sanctuaries."
Both Gray and Gandulla said that the Oswego community is excited to start developing its sanctuary and establishing similar programming that TBNMS established in Northeast Michigan.
"They’re so excited and what a neat thing to walk in on is people that are excited for the work that we’re doing, with them," Gandulla said.
Gray noted Gandulla's experience at TBNMS will help the sanctuary grow enmesh itself within the community.
"Step more than anybody has really touched every facet of what we do from the education and outreach to the research and monitoring, to our research protection," Gray said. "As a small staff, there is only going to be a few people there, that experience I think is going to help her grow that sanctuary faster than it would if it were anybody else."
Gray explained that community members from the TBNMS advisory council has visited Oswego to start making those connections. He added that the two sanctuaries will share ideas and expertise in the years to come.
"I think you’ll see with the sites in the Great Lakes, we’re not just gonna share people and resources like boats, but your ideas as well," Gray said. "A lot of the programs that have been going on here, we’ll hopefully see if they work there. I 100% expect in a couple of years, we’ll be stealing ideas from Stephanie."
Gandulla said that she is sad to be leaving Alpena but is grateful that she'll have many opportunities to return.
"I’ll be coming back here and visiting," she said. "Alpina has definitely a very special place in my heart. You haven’t seen the last of me yet."
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.