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Amelia Labbe
Executive Director
amelia@cointl.org Amelia brings a strong background in marine science, education, and environmental advocacy to her role as Executive Director of Clean Oceans International (COI). Her passion for ocean conservation began during an environmental study program in Belize and deepened through fieldwork studying sea turtles in Mexico. She later earned a Master of Science in Applied Marine Science, where she developed a low-cost protocol for detecting microplastics, empowering NOAA citizen scientists to contribute to ocean health research. Before joining COI, Amelia taught Oceanography at Cabrillo College, inspiring students to engage with marine science and the critical issue of plastic pollution. Since joining COI in 2022, she has been dedicated to expanding the organization’s reach, fostering community engagement, and advancing innovative solutions to plastic pollution. As Executive Director, Amelia leads COI’s efforts to drive impactful change through science, education, and advocacy. |
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David SchwartzEducation Director
[email protected] David Schwartz is the former Chair of Geology, Oceanography, and Environmental Science at Cabrillo College, where he taught for 35 years and helped shape the college’s environmental science programs. He holds a B.S. in Geology from Ohio State University and an M.S. in Marine Geology from San Jose State University and Moss Landing Marine Labs, where he studied estuarine evolution and the geologic history of Elkhorn Slough. David’s passion for the ocean began in his youth along the Atlantic coast and was fueled by early exposure to pollution issues and environmental activism. That passion has carried through a lifelong commitment to marine conservation and education. A lifelong environmental advocate, David has organized over 50 local and global coastal cleanups since 1998. Since 2012, he has played an essential role in sustaining and guiding Clean Oceans International, providing leadership, scientific insight, and unwavering dedication to the organization's mission to reduce marine plastic pollution. |
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Patricia Lieberg-ClarkEnvironmental Plastic Assessment Program Coordinator
[email protected] Patti’s passion for the ocean began in childhood and led her to study marine science at Orange Coast College and UC Santa Cruz, where she completed a thesis on marine mammal pollution ecology. She went on to co-coordinate NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network at UCSC’s Long Marine Lab for six years. Patti also had long-term teaching and field assistant roles for ocean and life science courses at Cabrillo College. She later earned a Master’s in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where she focused on blue carbon ecosystems and plastic pollution research. Her offshore sailing expeditions—from Mexico’s Gulf of California to the Panama Canal—revealed the scale of plastic pollution in even the most remote waters, deepening her commitment to ocean health. Patti has been actively involved with Clean Oceans International since 2012, contributing significantly to educational programs, fieldwork, and community outreach. She currently coordinates COI’s Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) and has served on the Board of Directors since 2018. Patti continues to support COI’s mission through leadership, science, and advocacy. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, sailing, wildlife biology, geology, and coffee. |