Prior to joining the VMRC, Ben was a Virginia Sea Grant Fellow with The Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources. In that role, Ben assisted as a co-author in Virginia's Coastal Resilience Master Planning Framework. Ben also previously served as a Fellow with The Nature Conservancy on the Eastern Shore, where he developed public engagement and outreach centered on climate change and adaptation to sea level rise.
Originally from Iowa, Ben graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, and then relocated to Virginia to attend VCU and earned a Master's in Biology in 2018. While at VCU, Ben's research focused on plant ecology and on the long-term changes to Virginia's barrier islands.
In his free time, Ben enjoys spending time birdwatching, hiking, camping and
relaxing at the beach.
Ben can be contacted by email at
Ben.Nettleton@mrc.virginia.gov.