Montana was born and raised on Cape Cod and earned her B.S. here at UVM in Community and International Development. Her passion for sustainable development and ocean conservation has led her to participate in a variety of marine debris monitoring, coastal international development, and sustainable ecotourism projects. Montana is also the acting Director for a grassroots nonprofit in the Dominican Republic which aims to provide food and housing security, increased access to the watersports industry, and ocean conservation education for community members in and around the community of Cabarete. When she is not researching harmful algal blooms, she enjoys being out on the water, whether it be sailing, windsurfing, rowing, or e-foiling. Hoping to one day pursue a career in the coastal international development field, Montana is excited to further her academic career and gain the skills, through this program, to support and empower communities in achieving sustainable development.