KINGSTON, R.I. – May 6, 2026 – As a child, Mary Brantley read her ocean encyclopedia so often it nearly fell apart. Years later that same fascination brought her to the University of Rhode Island, where she double majored in marine biology and marine affairs.

“The ocean is something I have always been deeply curious about,” Brantley said.

Now, as she prepares to graduate this May, Brantley does so with a perfect 4.0 GPA across both majors—earning the University Academic Excellence Award in each field. Her success reflects both discipline and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. A self-described highly organized student, she manages a demanding schedule with careful planning and a creative approach to studying.

“I pace around and act like I’m teaching the material,” she said. “If I can’t teach the material well enough to have other people understand it, then that signals to me that I don’t understand the material as well as I thought I did.”

Despite her academic success, she notes that her most impactful learning experiences happened beyond the classroom. Through hands-on research, Brantley developed adaptability in ways lectures couldn’t replicate. “Adjusting to exams or assignments being moved around is one thing,” she said, “but having to work with an animal that is completely out of your control is very different.”

As a CELS Summer Research Fellow, her days often began before sunrise on the water—catching bait near Beavertail Lighthouse and waiting offshore for hours. The payoff made it worthwhile. “Even just seeing a shark circle the boat makes the entire day of waiting worth it,” she said.

One standout moment came when she caught a tiger shark after previously studying its movement patterns. “The research becomes much more than just numbers on a page when you get to interact with the animals,” she said.

Fieldwork reinforced an important mindset for a marine scientist: “I learned very quickly that the best course of action is to go with the flow,” she said. “You adjust to the situation as needed and work hard regardless of the conditions.”

Brantley’s experience led to broader research opportunities, including her selection for the nationally competitive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings Scholarship, which afforded her a summer internship at NOAA where she studied how temperature affects the metabolism of the American lobster. The experience introduced her to federal research and the intersection of science and policy. 

“My career goal is to conduct research and work closely with fisheries managers to create more effective conservation policy,” said Brantley, who was also the recipient of a Professor Robert A. DeWolf Scholarship.

This fall, Brantley will continue her academic journey at the University of Delaware, where she will pursue a master’s degree focused on shark ecophysiology.  “I am incredibly excited to dive into this field of shark research,” she said. “I have done work at URI pertaining to where sharks move, but I am looking forward to now exploring why these animals move the way they do.”

Reflecting on her time at URI, Brantley encourages future students to remain open to new opportunities and experiences. “Being well-rounded is a good way to set yourself up for success and URI is the perfect place to try different things out,” she said. “Everyone’s path will be different, and your path will probably change as you try out new things, but if you consistently work hard, things will work out.”

For Brantley, that lifelong curiosity about the ocean is still driving what comes next.

This story was written by Anna Gray in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences.