Michele Hoffman Trotter
Ambassador
Michele Hoffman Trotter is an award-winning educator and ocean/sustainability advocate who fell in love with the ocean watching Jacques Cousteau at age five. Michele went on to become a PADI Instructor and NSS-CDS certified cave diver, holds a Master of Marine Science from the University of New South Wales, and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University. In addition to her faculty appointments at School of the Art Institute, Roosevelt University, and Columbia College, she is also an active contractor with University of Alaska and the Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research specializing in building educational content and fundraising. The courses she teaches span traditional ocean sciences, but also include sustainability courses that encompass law, policy, and ethics.
As a science education specialist and enthusiastic collaborator Michele has written scripts for and directed the production of films, overseen the construction of a video game about energy transfer in the Gulf of Alaska food web, and authored interdisciplinary curriculum and educator guides including a six-volume book series for the company Dive Into Your Imagination with a focus on science for pre-k through third grade. An active public speaker, Michele gives regular talks on matters including climate change, marine environments, water rights, fisheries and aquaculture, coral reef ecology and conservation, and many other topics. Michele’s articles and photography have appeared in numerous publications including the Chicago Sun Times, Dive Log, Sportdiving, Playboy and more, and have garnered awards and recognition in various competitions. Michele resides in Chicago and Alaska with her husband Bob and son Ryan who share in most of her adventures.