Mikaela Osten
Mikaela currently serves as the Operations Manager for Save The Waves Coalition, an international nonprofit dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems across the globe. In a growing organization, Mikaela is responsible for ensuring systems are integrated among the departments, supporting effective Board management, grant writing and donor relations, strategy management and implementation, project management and improved internal and external communications. Mikaela has worked in both private and nonprofit sectors over the last decade, honing her passion for people-centered and community-driven environmental and development work. She served in the Peace Corps as an Education & Youth Development volunteer in the Republic of Georgia and is passionate about building capacity and sharing knowledge with communities so that they are empowered to be leaders.
Mikaela grew up in Minnesota and moved to the Pacific Northwest, graduating from the University of Oregon with a BA in English Literature and a minor in Spanish. She is certified in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego and considers herself an insatiable learner, taking sustainable development, impact monitoring & evaluation and environmental management coursework. She believes in the importance of joy and play, and in her free time can be found surfing, hiking, writing, reading, and cooking.