Helaina Gomez grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and had the opportunity to appreciate and explore the biodiversity in the Southeast, driving her toward a career in freshwater conservation. After receiving her B.S. in Ecology and Field Biology, Helaina dedicated her time to field work with Southeast Conservation Corps, working alongside the Forest Service in many National Forests of the Southeast. She is currently in her third year as the Watershed Conservation Coordinator for the Tennessee Aquarium's research department, where she has gained experience in freshwater conservation research, finished a graduate program in Behavior Change & Sustainability with UC San Diego, and found a passion for integrating social-ecological research methods into her work in aquatic habitat restoration.