NMEA committees are divided into two types, each with a distinct purpose and membership process.

Open Committees

• Function: These committees work year-round to advise on and develop NMEA initiatives and projects, in alignment with the current Strategic Plan.

• Membership: Open to all members. Anyone who expresses interest is automatically added to the committee's workspace and will receive notifications through the NMEA membership portal.

• Committees: Conservation, Current, Education Research & Evaluation, Equity & Belonging, History, Membership, Ocean Literacy, Outreach, Social Media, Strategic Partnerships, Student Engagement, Technology, Traditional Knowledge

Closed Committees

• Function: These committees are formed to handle specific, time-bound, or operational tasks or are set by the organization's by-laws to handle specific operational tasks

• Membership: Membership is capped and is by “invitation only” or is defined by the organization’s by-laws, with committee members coming from the Board or appointed by the President. NMEA members who express interest in “invitation-only” committees will have their names forwarded to the committee chair for consideration.

• Committees: (Invitation) Awards, Bylaws, Conference, Grants & Development, International, Scholarship, Strategic Planning: (Set) Executive, Chapter, Finance, Nominating, Past Presidents

NMEA committees are grouped into six different “Pods”:  Operational, Communications, Issues & Trends, Stakeholder, Events, and Ad Hoc.

Operations Pod

Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws Committee is responsible for maintaining the organization’s bylaws and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The committee ensures each new Board member, including Chapter Representatives, has a copy of the current bylaws, and upon request, provides assistance to Chapters with bylaws development and revisions. This is a closed committee.

Chapters Committee 

The Chapters Committee is led by the current NMEA President-Elect and a Chapter Rep Co-Chair to provide the organizational structure to improve communications between NMEA Chapter Representatives and current activities in each NMEA Chapter for the good of the organization. All Chapter Representatives participate in quarterly conference calls, provide written updates for NMEA News and other publications including conference materials, provide periodic updates of web information, participate in coordination of share-a-thon events and other potential fundraising activities, and maintain the flow of information to their respective NMEA Chapter from the National Office. This is an operational committee determined by our bylaws.

Equity and Belonging Committee

The Equity & Belonging Committee collaborates with NMEA leadership, committees, and chapters to ensure that promoting equity, justice, and inclusion in ocean and aquatic science education is a shared responsibility throughout the organization. The committee is dedicated to fostering systemic change that ensures all NMEA members experience a sense of belonging, value, and appreciation. This is an open committee.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (ExCom) is a subset of the NMEA Board of Directors that has been delegated specific powers to act on behalf of the full Board in certain circumstances. Because the NMEA Board is fairly large and meets relatively infrequently, the ExCom serves (with some restrictions) to act for the Board between meetings in the capacities of advising the NMEA leadership and moving organizational business forward in an efficient manner. This is an operational committee determined by our bylaws.

Finance Committee

The duties of the Finance Committee shall be to review, with the aid of the President, an annual budget prepared by the Treasurer for submission to the Board, and shall have general supervision of the financial affairs of the Corporation. This Committee shall supervise the investment of capital funds, to cause the accounts of the Treasurer to be audited at least annually, and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to the committee. The Finance Committee shall at least annually make a complete and detailed report of the Corporation to the Board, including a financial statement which may or may not be prepared by a Certified Public Accountant, and prepare a sufficient number of copies of such report for distribution to the members of the Board. This is an operational committee determined by our bylaws.

Grants and Development Committee

The Grants and Development Committee (G&D) is primarily responsible for coordinating and leading the research and request of extramural funds and sponsorship to support NMEA efforts and business, such as the annual conference, scholarships, Current Journal, strategic planning, professional meetings, Board travel, promotional campaigns, or other related endeavors. The Committee encourages NMEA board members to seek out and nurture funding opportunities, in communication with (G&D), in support of NMEA efforts and actions. This is a closed committee.

History Committee

The History Committee is responsible for documenting the history of NMEA. The Chair, along with other committee members, collects images of people, conference sites, and memorabilia; compiles information about the organization's workings; and organizes these materials in digital form so that they can be posted on the NMEA History website. This is an open committee.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall submit nominees for election to the Board of the Corporation and the General Membership in writing at least three (3) calendar months before the date of the annual meeting of the Organization. The Nominating Committee shall consider the geographic distribution of the membership and make its nominations accordingly. All nominees shall be members of NMEA in good standing. This is an operational committee determined by our bylaws.

Strategic Partnerships Committee

The Strategic Partnerships Committee is dedicated to building and strengthening relationships with key organizations that align with NMEA’s mission and goals. This committee works to foster collaboration, amplify shared priorities, and create new opportunities for advancing ocean and environmental literacy. It oversees several subcommittees focused on specific partner groups, including the Blue Economy Subcommittee, which connects with industry leaders in marine education to support sustainable ocean-related outreach, careers and innovation; the NSTA Subcommittee, which engages with the National Science Teaching Association to integrate ocean literacy into science education; the NAAEE Subcommittee, which partners with the North American Association for Environmental Education to broaden environmental outreach; and the NOAA Subcommittee, which coordinates efforts with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support education, research, and policy initiatives. Through these focused partnerships, the committee enhances NMEA’s impact across sectors and communities. Other subcommittees can be added as needed. This is an open committee.

Communications Pod

Outreach Committee

The Outreach Committee aims to raise awareness and appreciation of marine and aquatic education in formal and non-formal educational settings at all levels, as well as the role of NMEA in facilitating this process. Efforts typically involve developing processes and materials for various audiences, particularly the education community. This is an open committee.

Current Committee

The Current Committee oversees NMEA's flagship peer-reviewed publication Current: The Journal of Marine Education, to ensure timely, consistent, and high-quality content that best reflects the organization's reach to members and other audiences. Committee members encourage, solicit, and review manuscripts for publication and seek appropriate sponsors for funded issues of the journal. This is an open committee.

Social Media Committee

The Social Media Committee supports the Communications & Digital Engagement Manager (CDEM) in maintaining the organization's online presence across various social media platforms, aiming to communicate with members, engage with the broader marine science education community, and promote the organization's mission and activities. The committee works closely with the other Communications Pod committees and the CDEM to ensure that the messaging of social media posts is consistent, both across platforms and with the organization's communications framework. This is an open committee.

Technology Committee 

The Technology Committee supports communication and coordination among the Board, National Office, web developers, and all Chapters in their participation in decision-making regarding the NMEA website and other electronic technologies that NMEA may utilize. The Technology Committee may also provide the following services: NMEA website assistance, setup of Board Meeting communications for hybrid meetings, conference A/V support, Member365 support, social media support, and other NMEA technology-related services. The committee collaborates with other Communications Pod committees to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to communication efforts for NMEA. This is an open committee.

Stakeholders Pod

International Committee

The International Committee supports increasing global participation in marine education and the promotion of ocean literacy around the world. Often working in conjunction with the Ocean Literacy Committee, it provides advice and guidance on all international activities of NMEA to the President, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and NMEA at large. This committee promotes and represents NMEA on the international level as opportunities arise, supports international member participation in conferences, committees and other NMEA activities, and ensures consistent NMEA communication with other international marine education associations, as appropriate. This is a closed committee.

Membership Committee

The purpose of the Membership committee is to increase and retain the membership of the National Marine Educators Association. The Membership committee strives to work with the Executive Administrator, Directors, Chapters, and Committee Chairs to ensure a highly engaged, motivated and diverse membership.  This is an open committee.

Student Engagement Committee

The Student Engagement Committee works to support the engagement of students in NMEA, creating opportunities for young people to learn more about the field of marine education, connect with a network of professionals, and gain support for their own marine education and conservation efforts. This is an open committee.

Events Pod

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee is responsible for the comprehensive management of the National Marine Educator Awards Program. This includes overseeing the nomination and selection processes, preparing all recognition materials for the annual NMEA Conference, and coordinating with the Media Committee for public announcements. Additionally, the committee maintains the clarity of award descriptions and, when requested, develops proposals for new awards for Board consideration. This is a closed committee.

Conference Committee

The Conference Committee reviews proposals from NMEA Chapters for hosting conferences, and makes recommendations to the board for approval or adjustments to the proposals before approval. Throughout the conference planning process, committee members act as general advisors to conference hosts, providing guidance on general NMEA conference policies, successful strategies from past NMEA conferences, budget planning, program preparation, presenter and conference evaluation, and other areas as requested by conference chairs. This is a closed committee.

Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee is responsible for the overall management of the NMEA Scholarship Program. This includes defining scholarship criteria, soliciting and reviewing applications, selecting deserving recipients, and coordinating the timely distribution of scholarship funds. The committee also ensures clear communication regarding scholarship opportunities and requirements.  This is a closed committee.

Issues and Trends Pod

Conservation Committee

The Conservation Committee provides information to the NMEA membership and its audiences to support informed decision-making. Through NMEA’s website, News, Current Journal, and other publications, we share tools to support individual and collective action for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes health. We recognize there are many different approaches to conservation, and strive to provide information that is accurate, relevant, and accessible for all audiences.  This is an open committee.

Education Research & Evaluation Committee 

The Education Research Committee strives to foster and share valid and reliable educational research in ocean and aquatic topics to inform best practices in formal, informal and free choice learning. The Committee’s goal is to improve the quality and availability of educational research in ocean, aquatic, coastal and Great Lakes topics and to create a network of like-minded researchers and evaluators.  This is an open committee.

Ocean Literacy Committee

The Ocean Literacy Committee focuses on improving public understanding of the importance of the ocean by increasing the presence and prominence of ocean sciences in mainstream formal K-16, informal and free choice education, research, policies, programs, resources and instructional materials. This is an open committee.

Traditional Knowledge Committee

The Traditional Knowledge (TK) Committee promotes traditional knowledge as it relates to marine education, science and ecosystems. This is an open committee.

Ad Hoc Committees

Blue Schools Committee

Past Presidents

The Ad Hoc Past Presidents Committee serves a variety of roles related to 1) maintaining connections among NMEA’s past presidents, and 2) maintaining connections between NMEA’s past presidents and NMEA’s current leadership. These roles may include: providing a council of advisors to the Presidents Chain and to other NMEA committees; documenting and preserving key historical events, stories and accomplishments that have shaped NMEA; organizing presentations, sessions, field trips, etc. at conferences designed to appeal to past presidents and other older members; assisting in the coordination the Past Presidents Circle at annual conferences; representing NMEA to organizations and networks that may be beneficial to the membership and the field.  This is a closed committee.

Strategic Planning

This is a closed committee.

How to Join or Express Interest in a Committee

There are two ways active members of NMEA can join or express interest in an NMEA committee: 

Join in the NMEA Member Portal:

• Active members can select committees they are interested in joining using the NMEA membership portal.

  • Go to the NMEA Member Portal

  • Log in using the email address associated with your NMEA membership

  • Go to My Account > My Profile > NMEA Members Profile

  • Scroll down to select any committees you are interested in

  • Save by clicking “Save Extended Fields” at the bottom of the page

• View the Step-by-Step Guide here: Joining NMEA Committees: A Step-by-Step Guide

Join by email:

• Send an email to Jackie Lewis, NMEA Executive Administrator at nmea@marine-ed.org expressing your interest in a specific committee(s).

Members joining open committees will be added to that committee’s workspace in the NMEA membership portal.  Committee chairs will contact committee members through the portal.

Members interested in closed committees will be emailed by the committee chairs with a status update within one month.