Frances Lang

Frances is an ocean literacy specialist with 15 years of experience working to protect the natural habitats and biodiversity of the U.S. and Mexico. In 2007 she helped to establish Ocean Connectors, a fiscal sponsorship project of The Ocean Foundation that uses migratory marine species to educate, inspire, and connect youth in underserved Pacific coastal communities. As Executive Director of Ocean Connectors, her responsibilities included program design, fundraising, staff and financial management, partner development, marketing, and operations. Frances became a Program Officer at The Ocean Foundation in 2022 and currently leads the Community Ocean Engagement Global Initiative focused on creating equitable access to marine education programs and careers throughout the world.

Frances holds a Master’s Degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a Minor in Spanish from the University of California Santa Barbara. She is also a graduate of the Sanford Institute of Philanthropy Fundraising Academy, a Certified Interpretive Guide, and holds a Professional Certificate in Grant Writing from San Diego State University. Frances has been awarded a number of honors including the USC Ocean Science Leadership Award (2010), American Meteorological Society Distinguished Educator Award (2011), IEA Research and Education Foundation Excellence in Community Leadership and Outreach Award (2016), and the Port of San Diego Michelle White Environmental Award (2018).