Theresa Soley

P.O. Box 315 Girdwood, Alaska 99587

e-mail: theresaesoley@gmail.com
www.solcreativeadventure.com

Education

O.H.M. University of Alaska Fairbanks 2020-2022

One Health Master
Department chair: Dr. Arleigh Reynolds
GPA: 4.0

M.A. Marquette University 2014-2017

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Master of Arts, Communication
Health, the Environment, Science and Sustainability & Journalism
Thesis: Can big whales inspire big behaviors? A study of environmental communication,
and nature immersion
Advisor: Dr. Robert Griffin

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Freshwater Sciences 2014-2015

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Graduate student, Master of Science courses in partnership with Marquette University exchange
program

B.S. University of San Francisco 2007-2011

San Francisco, California
Bachelor of Science, Biology with an emphasis in ecology

Pontificia Universidade Catolica 2010

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
International student with a concentration in ecology

Scholarships
Marilyn Russell Scholarship, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Spring 2022
Degree Completion Scholarship, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fall 2021
Partial tuition scholarship, National Outdoor Leadership School mountaineering course, 2018
Tuition scholarship, twelve credits awarded by Marquette University, 2016
Wisconsin Outdoor Communicators Association, financial scholarship applied toward tuition
at Marquette University, 2016
Research assistantship, tuition and stipend awarded by Marquette University, 2014-2015
Fachex program scholarship, eight semesters of tuition granted at the University of San
Francisco, 2007-2011

Grants
Alaska Center ICE, Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship Seed
funding award, 2022
 University of Alaska Fairbanks, Graduate School Travel Grant, 2022
Alaska EPSCoR, National Science Foundation, Seed Visualization award, 2021-2022
O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism, financial travel research grants, 2015-2016

Society membership
American Alpine Club
Society of Environmental Journalists
Alaska Press Club
Society for Marine mammalogy

Work, intern and relevant experience

● Owner and Creative Director at Sol Creative LLC February 2024-present
I am excited to have founded my own company this year! Feel free to inquire more, or request a
copy of my business plan.

● Naturalist and Zodiac driver for Silversea expeditions and American Queen Voyages
(Seasonal contracts) May 2019-present
Act as naturalist, zodiac captain/driver and guide from Japan to Alaska, along the west coast of
Canada, and from South America to the Antarctic Peninsula

● Layout Editor and Vice President for Alaska Women Speak, 501(c)3 NonProfit organization
Remote work 2019-present
Create quarterly design layouts for print literary journals, sold across Alaska

● President, Board of Directors for Rainforest Yoga, 501(c)3 NonProfit organization

Juneau, Alaska 2016-2021
Attend quarterly board meetings, act as marketing committee chair, organize workshops and
maintain organizational functioning

● Lead sea kayak guide for Alaska Mountain Guides & Alaska Discovery (Mountain Travel
Sobek/National Geographic) (seasonal contracts) 2011- 2021
throughout Southeast Alaska
Trip planning, leading base camp/expedition travel up to ten days in length
Knowledge of natural history and local ecology of Southeast Alaska
Advanced water safety and kayaking experience

● Science naturalist guide for Gastineau Guiding Company (seasonal contracts) 2013-2019
Juneau, Alaska
Lead interpretive trips on trails and waters in Southeast Alaska with a focus on ecological
relationships and scientific principles and aid in citizen science data collection projects

● Fisheries, Marine Mammal Observer (seasonal contracts) 2012, 2019

Anchorage & Juneau, Alaska
 Measurements, counts and assessments taken on commercial fishing boats and mining ferries
Observe compliance with state and federal fish and wildlife regulations

● Science policy communications fellow with March for Science March-December 2018
Remote work from Juneau, Alaska
Research and interpret science policies, write policy communication packages to be distributed
nationally
Edit/write rapid response communications and toolkits with an emphasis on policy
● Student researcher, freelance reporter for O’Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism in
partnership with the Center for Investigative Reporting and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee, Wisconsin and San Francisco Bay Area, California 2014-2017
Assist and conduct independent reporting research in public service journalism and ecology, to be
published in partner national and state publications

● News reporting intern at KTOO (Alaska Public Media – a National Public Radio affiliate)
Juneau, Alaska October- December 2015
Pitch and write news stories with an emphasis on environmental themes

● Research assistant at Marquette University August 2014-May 2015

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Aid in journalism research regarding a wide variety of topics from health to ethics

● Volunteer research assistant for Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program

Equatorial Guinea, West Africa October 2013-April 2014
Monitor leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nesting ecology, working under professors
from Drexel University
Observe and document primate feeding ecology, and general behaviors of drills (Mandrillus
leucophaeus poensis) in their natural environment, from hides

● Volunteer diver for Aquarium of the Bay September 2010- May 2011
San Francisco, California
Basic marine animal husbandry skills and experience diving in large aquarium tanks
Prepare food, feed aquatic animals and maintain tank exhibits

● Lifeguard at University of San Francisco Koret Center, Milwaukee County Aquatics

San Francisco, California and Milwaukee, Wisconsin 2006-2011
Monitor swimming areas watching for distressed patrons

Select published writing

Soley, Theresa E. “Can Big Whales Inspire Big Behaviors? A Study of Environmental
Communication, and Nature Immersion.” Marquette University. 28 June 2017. Available
electronically at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/theses_open/423/
Soley, Theresa E. "US Government Fails to Track Toxic Spills in Nation's Waterways." Reveal.
The Center for
Investigative Reporting, 03 Feb. 2017. Web. 30 Mar. 2017. Available electronically at:
https://www.revealnews.org/article/us-government-fails-to-track-toxic-spills-in-nations-wa
terways/
 Soley, Theresa. “From Icefield to Ocean.” University of Alaska Southeast/EPSCoR. Print. May
2016. Available
electronically at: http://theresaesoley.weebly.com/science-communication.html
Soley, Theresa. “High in Peru’s Lake Titicaca, native fish threatened by North American
Trout.” The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 12 September 2015. Available electronically
at:https://archive.jsonline.com/news/usandworld/high-in-perus-lake-titicaca-native-fish-thr
eatened-by-north-american-trout-b99566456z1-324411691.html/

Biological/field techniques
● Southeast Alaska marine mammal counts, humpback whale fluke photography and individual
identification
● Reptile pit tagging
● Sea turtle nesting data recorded: activity, egg counts, weights, turtle measurements, carbon
dioxide and temperature of nests
● Observation and documentation of primate feeding and social behaviors
● Species identification in the field using dichotomous keys

Outdoor certifications
● American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIAIRE) recreation level 2
course, Colorado Adventure Guides (2023), AIARE recreation level 1 course, Mountain
Madness (2019) & AIARE Avalanche Rescue, Apex Mountain School (2018)
● Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Divemaster scuba certifications, Professional
Association of Diving Instructors (2007, 2023)
● 50-ton Master captain’s license, United States Coast Guard (2016, 2021)
● American Canoe Association kayak level 2 & 3 courses, by California Canoe and Kayak (2019)
and the International Wilderness Leadership School (2021)
● International Wilderness Leadership School Mountaineering 20-day Leadership & Guide
training course (2019)
● Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) presented by
Silversea Expeditions (2019)
● Wilderness First Responder by Wilderness Medical Associates International & National
Outdoor Leadership School, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021
● Alaska Department of Fish & Game Hunter Information and Training Program (2018)
● National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) mountaineering course (2018)
● AED and CPR certification through the American Heart Association, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016,
2019, 2021, 2023
● Alaska Tour Guide certificate by the Alaska Tourism Board, 2013
● First Responder by Milwaukee County, 2006, 2009
Yoga credentials & trainings

Feet on the Ground March 2020

Seattle, Washington
Three-day trauma-informed yoga training with financial support from Rainforest Yoga

Northwest Vipassana Center January 2018

Unalaska, Washington
Course in Vipassana meditation led by S.N. Goenka, and his assistant teachers
Meditation practices that focus on purification, creation of awareness and maintenance of
equanimity

Yoga for Mental Health November 2017

Anchorage, Alaska
Continuing education credits/modules: Yoga Professional and Anatomy
Financial support by Rainforest Yoga scholarship funding

Union Tree School of Yoga (UTSY), MySachaJi February 2017

Otavalo, Ecuador
50 hours of continuing education credits, Embodiment and Meditation Modules

Core Essence Yoga (now Union Tree School of Yoga) September-December 2014
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
200-hour training, Registered Yoga Alliance Approved School in accordance with the Wisconsin
Education Approval Board (WEAB)
Comprehensive instruction in asana, pranayama, meditation and practice teaching

Yoga teaching

Adjunct instructor at University of Alaska Southeast

2017-2019
Juneau, Alaska

Yoga instructor at Rainforest Yoga

2015-2021
Juneau, Alaska

Yoga instructor at Alaska Club

2016-2021
Juneau, Alaska

Yoga instructor, Marquette University Rec Center, Men’s Tennis team, Triathlon Club
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2015-2016