Victoria Souze
Victoria has been with the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network since its inception in 2007. She was the Education Director until 2015 when she took over as Principal Investigator. Victoria has worked in marine and fisheries research. For the past twenty three years she has also worked as a marine naturalist on tour boats plying the waters from the San Juan Islands to Alaska. She enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge about the marine mammals and birds in the Pacific Northwest. She lives on Lummi Island where she is surrounded by the ocean that she loves. Victoria holds a 24 Hour HAZWOPER certificate that is for oil spill response.
360 739 6713 vsouze56@gmail.com
Alysha Evans
Alysha has been working with wildlife for the last 15 years including marine mammals. She is an LVT and Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator currently managing the Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Alysha’s passion is wildlife medicine and she feels honored to expand her skill set and be on the board of WMMSN. Alysha has been the Co-Investigator for WMMSN for the last 4 years and also assists with necropsies.
Mike Massey
Mike Massey graduated from Western Washington University, in 1985, with a combined Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science and Business Administration, and a minor in History. For the next 15 years he worked as a computer programmer (Dealer Information Systems), and as a database programmer, network administrator and IT Manager at Western Washington University (WWU). During that time he also obtained his commercial pilot license and float plane rating from Trinity Western University. Mike has been teaching Computer Networking at Bellingham Technical College since 2000. He is currently pursuing a degree in Biology at WWU.
Mike has been a responder for the last ten years. He is has 24 HAZWOPER training and worked at the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf in 2010.
Jennifer Hunt has been working with animals for 15 years and volunteering with the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network since summer of '23. Jennifer received her bachelor's degree in History, has worked as a vet tech assistant, and currently works in education as a substitute teacher. Her passion for wildlife and marine mammals began as a child growing up in Florida and is part of what drew her here to Washington. She spends her free time hiking, kayaking, and practicing her photography skills. Jennifer is 8-hour HAZWOPER certified for Oil Spill Respons
Kelsey McLane
Kelsey was born and raised on Lummi Island, and returned to live there after graduating from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She has been a volunteer responder for WMMSN since 2015, and joined the board that same year as Education Director. Kelsey holds a 24 Hour HAZWOPER certificate that is for oil spill response.
Samantha Souze
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Samantha. She was an invaluable responder and our expert on finances, grant submissions, and all of the other administrative duties that come with having a non profit organization. Her sense of humor and work ethic will be dearly missed.
Samantha is our Finance Director and Responder since 2016. She has owned her own business, DUCKS IN A ROW since 2003 serving other small businesses with bookkeeping and office solutions. Samantha majored in Zoology with a Marine Biology minor at UW Seattle and the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She was a veterinary assistant at an emergency vet clinic in Seattle for several years while attending college there. She has volunteered with Sardi's Raptor Center in Custer, WA for 2 years specializing in the rehab portion of the organization. Samantha has a deep love for all animals, marine and land.
Paul Evans
Paul is an animal control officer for whatcom county and has been doing this for over 25 years. He first got started helping marine mammals four years ago and has since joined the board to further help the organization. Paul enjoys working with marine mammals as they have such unique personalities and working with them involves being outdoors!
Shawn Northouse
Shawn began volunteering for WMMSN in 2018. She grew up exploring the vast ocean of wheat fields near her hometown of Steptoe, Washington on horseback. She decided to make Whatcom County her home after graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Communications. At the end of the workweek, Shawn stays sane by spending her free time exploring the outdoors. She finds volunteering to be a great way to learn about the outdoors and meet people with similar interests. Besides WMMSN, she has volunteered for the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Whatcom Conservation District, Re Sources, Northwest Ecological, and the Marine Life Center. Shawn is 24-hour HAZWOPER certified for Oil Spill Response.