Northern Marianas College Natural Resource Management Program faculty and the U.S. Division of Fish & Wildlife Mariana Trench Marine National Monument staff pose for a photo with Blue Nature Alliance representatives during a recent visit to Saipan.
NMC photo
(NMC) — As part of Northern Marianas College’s ongoing efforts to build local capacity and expand career pathways for CNMI-based students interested in natural resource management, conservation and ocean science, the college’s Natural Resource Management Program has launched a new workforce development effort called STOWE: Safeguarding Traditional Ocean Wisdom and Education, with funding from the Blue Nature Alliance.
The STOWE program focuses on two primary areas:
• Curriculum development to expand and enhance course offerings under the Natural Resource Management program, including new thematic emphasis tracks and courses that integrate Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge or ITECK with Western science.
• Supplemental learning and fieldwork opportunities, such as paid internships and work-study positions with community partners, including 500 Sails and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mariana Trench Marine National Monument.
By combining hands-on experience with academically rigorous coursework, STOWE aims to prepare students for a growing number of careers in marine resource conservation, ocean governance, community planning and environmental education. The interdisciplinary nature of the field means students will develop a broad set of transferable skills in science, communication, cultural literacy and systems thinking — essential tools for navigating complex environmental and social challenges.
As part of the initiative, NMC’s Natural Resource Management Program is working toward the development of a four-year bachelor’s degree pathway in natural resource management, while also expanding options within the existing associate degree program. In addition to ITECK, future emphasis tracks will include geographic information systems, policy and administration, and marine biology — areas of study that are increasingly relevant to regional and global employment sectors.
“The STOWE initiative is about strengthening our community’s ability to manage its own resources by investing in the education and professional growth of our students,” said Mallory Muna Dela Cruz, BNA/STOWE program manager and NRM instructor at NMC. “Many of our students are looking for careers that will allow them to not only remain in the Marianas but contribute meaningfully to our islands. STOWE gives them the skills, confidence and support to do just that — whether they go on to government, nonprofit, education or research positions, or choose to pursue further academic studies.”
Dela Cruz brings a background in environmental communication and ocean governance to her role. She holds a master’s degree in marine affairs from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in sustainability and environmental humanities from Arizona State University. Her graduate research focused on ocean equity and Indigenous participation in ocean governance and decision-making.
In November 2024, representatives from the Blue Nature Alliance visited Saipan to meet with NMC’s Natural Resource Management Program, as well as community partners and sub-awardees. The visit helped solidify long-term support for the creation of expanded degree offerings and local internships, and validated the importance of placing NMC students at the center of the CNMI’s conservation future.
“The Blue Nature Alliance’s partnership with the NMC Natural Resource Management Program is an incredible opportunity to build on the solid foundation of ocean conservation work already achieved in the Marianas. The work of conservation is no longer limited to one type of job or discipline,” said Kelsey McClellan, NRM program coordinator. “We’re seeing a real need for professionals who can move between science, policy and communications. Through STOWE, we’re creating more entry points for our students into these interdisciplinary careers — many of which didn’t exist a generation ago.”
The STOWE program is part of a broader effort by NMC and the Natural Resource Management Program to cultivate the next generation of ocean stewards and conservation professionals in the Northern Mariana Islands.
For more information, contact BNA/STOWE Program Manager Mallory Muna Dela Cruz at mallory.muna@marianas.edu/.
