Celebrating Trailblazing Educators and Inspirations at Scripps Oceanography (Women Edition)
News Article: Women Leaders Shine at Scripps Oceanography
In the world of ocean, Earth, and atmospheric sciences, Scripps Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, is home to a series of inspiring women leaders. This Women's History Month, these trailblazers are being celebrated for their significant contributions and roles in advancing scientific research and education.
One such leader is Dr. Meenakshi Wadhwa, who was appointed as the Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences at UC San Diego and the 12th Director of Scripps Oceanography in July 2025. Dr. Wadhwa, an accomplished Earth and planetary scientist, brings a unique blend of isotope cosmochemistry, geochronology, and planetary science expertise to her role. Her tenure at Scripps continues the legacy of women leaders, following Margaret Leinen, who served as the first woman director from 2013 until 2025.
Dr. Wadhwa's leadership is particularly notable for her integrative approach to global environmental challenges, combining planetary science with marine and Earth sciences. Her appointment exemplifies ongoing progress for women scientists in leadership roles at Scripps, a testament to the institution's 122-year history of inspiring and revolutionary women.
Meanwhile, Hannah Tannenbaum, the program manager of the Master of Advanced Studies program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MAS MBC) at Scripps Oceanography, finds Women's History Month as an opportunity to reflect on the long road ahead for true equality and justice. Tannenbaum, a proud alumnus of the MAS MBC program (class of 2019), manages all logistics for the program, from prospective student recruitment to event planning for the alumni network.
Tannenbaum is also a source of inspiration for Hannah's younger sister, a children's mental health professional, and Samantha Murray, a mentor and role model for MAS MBC students. Murray, who serves as president of the California Fish and Game Commission, is another shining example of a woman leader at Scripps.
Notably, Allison Cusick, a recent Scripps PhD graduate, received the first-ever UC San Diego Student/Alumni Innovator of the Year award in 2024 for co-founding FjordPhyto. The campuswide theme for Women's History Month 2025 is "Empowerment Echoes: Celebrating Women Who Advocate and Educate."
In addition, UC San Diego launched the Jane Teranes Climate Change Education Requirement in 2024, a groundbreaking education initiative honoring the late Jane Teranes, a beloved Scripps teaching professor who was an advocate for climate education. The Women's Center at UC San Diego provides information about the programs celebrating women during Women's History Month, including International Women's Day on March 8.
Scripps Oceanography has a rich history of inspiring women who have dedicated their lives to educating and inspiring future generations. Ellen Browning Scripps, a suffragist, businesswoman, journalist, and philanthropist, helped found Scripps Oceanography in 1903. Today, women like Dr. Wadhwa, Tannenbaum, Murray, and Cusick continue to carry on this legacy.
Tannenbaum advises young girls and women to get involved, talk about uncomfortable things, and refuse to acquiesce during Women's History Month. She is proud of playing a role in supporting students through their studies and into the world where they do important marine conservation work.
Helen Amanda Fricker and Sarah Gille, two leading researchers at Scripps, are currently conducting concept studies to advance our understanding of the planet's response to climate change. Their work, like that of many women at Scripps, is a testament to the institution's commitment to scientific excellence and its ongoing support for women in science.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, it's clear that Scripps Oceanography is a place where women leaders are making a significant impact, inspiring future generations, and driving groundbreaking research in the fields of ocean, Earth, and atmospheric sciences.
- Dr. Meenakshi Wadhwa, the new Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences at UC San Diego and 12th Director of Scripps Oceanography, is using her integrative approach to climate science, oceanographic research, and marine conservation to address global environmental challenges.
- As part of the UC San Diego's Jane Teranes Climate Change Education Requirement launched in 2024, students are being educated about marine biodiversity and conservation, emphasizing the institution's commitment to education-and-self-development and climate change awareness.
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