By Sarah Sell, University Communications and Marketing
Although Abby Bernard grew up in Ohio, far from the Gulf Coast, her family's annual vacations to Florida sparked a passion for the ocean. After attending several camps at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, she knew exactly what type of career she wanted to pursue.
"That's where I fell in love with marine biology. It started with a love for dolphins and marine mammals and grew to include coral ecology and research," Bernard said.
Graduating this summer with a bachelor's degree in marine biology, Bernard credits both her academic experiences and the personal loss of her father in her senior year as defining parts of her college journey.
During her time at USF St. Petersburg, Bernard immersed herself in the underwater world, both literally and academically. As an open water and scientific diver, trained to conduct research below the surface, she has contributed to innovative coral reef research in the Caribbean. And while her academic journey has been filled with discovery and adventure, it was also marked by deep personal loss.
In October of 2024, shortly after back-to-back hurricanes disrupted travel and campus life in Florida, Abby's father passed away from a year-long battle with cancer. She had been traveling back and forth to Ohio and was still trying to balance her academic responsibilities and graduate on time.
"It shaped my college career, and it shaped my experience that fall semester. It happened right after the hurricanes, and a lot was going on," she said. "Thankfully, my professors were very accommodating, and that was very important to me, too. I pulled through and have a lot more appreciation for the work that I'm doing."
Bernard received her American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) certification, allowing her to gather data, collect samples and conduct research for USF.
While at USF, Bernard took advantage of every research opportunity she could find, participating in two study abroad trips. In July, she went to the Bahamas, where she worked at the Forfar Field Station on Andros Island. In 2023, she took a study abroad trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where she was able to dive and set up a coral reef research site.
"We got to do something called coral reef photogrammetry, which is taking thousands of pictures of a reef and building a 3D model so you can see how the reef changes over time, she said. "Our class was the first one to do it, and it became a permanent research site. So, it's cool to say that I got to take part in setting that up."
On campus, Bernard also found ways to stay engaged and give back to the USF community. She worked as a campus tour guide and orientation leader, where she shared what made the St. Petersburg campus feel like home. She appreciated its close-knit community and the option to participate in classes and events on the Tampa campus, which helped shape her college experience.
"I went through a lot of phases, and each semester was fun and challenging, she said. "I became more well-rounded and learned a lot about myself during my time at USF."