Meet Toni Sleugh (she/her), our Marketing and Communications Chair!

Toni is a PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, CA. Her research explores how the legacy of offshore waste disposal in Southern California continues to impact marine life and public health. In her role as Marketing and Communications Chair, Toni is responsible for communicating information from the planning committee to the attendees, generating hype about the conference, and developing posts for social media and the conference website. This will be Toni’s first in-person BWEEMS conference and she is excited to get to spend quality time with the long-distance friends and mentors she’s met through BWEEMS.

Q: Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in EEMS?

A: My parents were huge inspirations to me. My mom is a registered nurse and my dad has a PhD in agriculture. They both pushed the importance of education on me and encouraged me to be curious, to read, and to love learning and I haven’t stopped.

Q: How do you balance being a scientist with the rest of your life? 

A: I try my hardest to see myself as a person first and a scientist second. I went to a talk as an undergraduate by Danielle Lee where she told us that “you can’t collect data if you’re dead.” That really stuck with me and helped me feel a lot less guilty about taking time for myself. Being rested, happy, and in community makes me a better scientist.

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Q: What are your favorite things to do in your free time?

A: I’m an avid reader and volunteer at my public library. I love sitting outside in the sun with a good book and nowhere to be. I also enjoy making things - some of my favorite hobbies are cooking, sewing, and embroidery. I have two little kitties named Miles (Davis) and Miles (Morales) who I love and adore. 

Q: Who are some Black gender minorities who you look up to (in EEMS & beyond) and why?

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A: Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is one of my biggest role models - she is a fellow Jamaican and was in the same graduate program that I’m in. I’m inspired by her work to bring ocean and climate science to public policy in an accessible and equitable way. 

Q: What art are you most excited about and want to share wih BWEEMS?

A: Out of Plain Sight - a documentary by the LA Times on the history of waste disposal in Southern California and its far-reaching impacts. I do have a brief cameo, but outside of that, it’s a truly beautiful film about a massively collaborative scientific effort that helps me put my work in perspective. 

Q: What advice would you give young Black gender minorities in EEMS? 

A: It’s not just you! I’ve spent my whole life in PWIs feeling like there was something wrong with me, but getting connected to BWEEMS taught me that there wasn’t. It’s perfectly okay to bring your whole self to the table and to not water yourself down for others’ comfort. People and places that make you feel otherwise are not the ones whose input I’d value. 

Q: What’s your favorite place in nature and why? 

A: I love being by any body of water. One place that comes to mind is the Torrey Pines Gliderport in San Diego. There are these beautiful cliffs overlooking the ocean and it’s the perfect place to watch the sunset or stargaze. It makes me feel small and connected to nature in a calming way.

Q: Share your favorite BWEEMS memory!

A: My favorite BWEEMS memories are the relationships I’ve built with my mentors and mentees. I’ve enjoyed getting to know them all and meeting them in person. 

Learn more about the BWEEMS 2025 conference and the planning committee here! Register for the conference by May 2nd, 2025.