Connecting Science, Policy, and Community in the USVI
by, Sophia McKenzie & Elizabeth Harris
Dr. Akacia Halliday-Isaac, a microbial ecologist born and raised on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has built a career rooted in both scientific curiosity and a deep commitment to her home community. A proud alumna of the University of the Virgin Islands, she earned her B.S. in Biology in 2013 and her Master of Marine and Environmental Sciences in 2019, where she studied the population dynamics of a parasitic infection in reef fish. She later continued her education at the University of Mississippi, completing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 2022 and a Ph.D. in Biological Science in 2024. Her doctoral research focused on microbial ecology, examining aquatic intracellular parasites, and how host–parasite interactions influence entire ecosystems. She also served as a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow through the National Sea Grant College Program, where she conducted policy research and analysis with the United States Senate, gaining valuable insight into how science informs federal decision-making.
Halliday-Isaac’s passion for marine biology began during her undergraduate years when she participated in the ECS Summer Research Institute and worked on a coral–algae interaction project. That early hands-on experience sparked her interest in aquatic systems and set her on a path toward research. Yet one of the most meaningful chapters of her journey came while working as an academic advisor at the Center for Student Success. There, she developed a strong interest in how science is communicated and understood, which evolved into a broader focus on science education and advocacy. Toward the end of her Ph.D., she pursued the Knauss Fellowship to better understand the connection between science and policy. Her time on Capitol Hill deepened her appreciation for stakeholder engagement and community-driven solutions.
Inspired to bring those experiences home, Halliday-Isaac returned to the Virgin Islands to apply her skills locally. Through her work with the Strong Coasts project, she hopes to ensure that community voices help guide research and shape outcomes. Grounded in the confidence and adaptability she developed at UVI, she continues to blend science, education, and advocacy in service of the islands she calls home.
