Kaleigh Ballantine

Experience

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• Communications Specialist & Graphic Designer (full-time)
  • Supporting NOAA Education (Jan. 2024 – Present), NOAA Heritage (August 2025 – Present), and the NOAA Digital Engagement and Transformation Program (January 2024 – August 2025) via FedGeek, Inc.
  • Co-lead of NOAA Style and Design Working Group and member of NOAA DataComm, NOAA Web Committee, and NOAA Ambassadors
• Graphic Designer (part-time)
  • Supporting NOAA Education (Aug. 2022 – Jan. 2024) via TechGlobal, Inc.
• Visual Science Communication Intern (internship)
  • Supporting NOAA Education (Sept. 2020 – Aug. 2022) via TechGlobal, Inc. (Nov. 2021 – Aug. 2022) and Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) (Sept. 2020 – Jun. 2021)

Emergent Education

• Academic Tutor – Contract Position (part-time)
  • Supporting K-12 students in math, science, writing, organization, and more (Jan. 2026 – Present)

Oregon State University (OSU)

• Lead Research Consultant (part-time)
  • Supporting the Library Experience and Access Department (Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2023)
• Writing Consultant (part-time)
  • Supporting the Undergraduate Research and Writing Studio (Sept. 2021 – Dec. 2022)

Education

Oregon State University Honors College (Sept. 2020 – Mar. 2024)

• BS, Environmental Sciences
• Minors in Oceanography and Graphic Design
• Scientific, Technical, and Professional Communication Certificate

Scholarships & awards

NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring & Observing

• 3rd Place, Arctic Report Card Photo Contest (2025)

U.S. Coast Guard

• Arctic Service Medal (2025)

Oregon State University Honors College

• Honor Roll (2020 – 2024)
• Excellece in Environmental Sciences Scholarship (2022)
• Marine Studies Initiative Student Award (2022)
• Wayne R. and Julie Claire Spesock Memorial Scholarship (2022)
• Ida M. Crawford Scholarship (2020, 2022)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship (2020)
• Presidential Scholarship (2020)

Field research

Ship-based Technical Support in the Arctic (STARC)

• Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Intern (Jul. – Aug. 2025)
  • Supported technical operations for the AMOS Arctic expedition aboard USCGC Healy by maintaining shipboard instrumentation (including CTD, ADCP, PCO2, and multibeam), assisting with the deployment and recovery of moorings and ARGO floats, and updating documentation for data acquisition systems.

Northern Gulf of Alaska Long-Term Ecological (NGA LTER) project

• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Intern (Jun. – Aug. 2023)
  • Supported CTD operations, acoustic mooring recovery, and nutrient sampling during a three-week research expedition aboard the R/V Kilo Moana.

Oregon State University

• Undergraduate student, Oceanographic surveys of Yaquina Bay (Feb. 2023, Oct. 2024)
  • Collected and analyzed multi-parameter water column data in Yaquina Bay aboard the R/V Elakha, using CTD instrumentation and Ocean Data View software.
• Undergraduate student, Analyzing differences in phytoplankton productivity in oceanic and bay environments (Jul. 2022)
  • Executed water sampling and biological analysis aboard the R/V Elakha, utilizing CTD instrumentation and performing chlorophyll, nutrient, and copepod assays.

Speaking engagements

NOAA Education Council

• Presenter, “Creating accessible and engaging visual communication materials” (Jan. 2025)
• Presenter, “NOAA Education graphics portfolio” (Apr. 2024)

National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) Conference

• Presenter, “Drawn to learning: Creating accessible and engaging visual science communication materials” (Jul. 2024)

Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) Youth Summit

• Speaker, Young professionals panel (Jul. 2024)

NOAA Social and Web Team

• Presenter, “Creating accessible and engaging visual communication materials” (May 2024)

Ocean Sciences Meeting

• Poster presenter, “Investigating physical drivers of phytoplankton bloom initiation in the Northern Gulf of Alaska” (Feb. 2024)

Certifications

NOAA PACT (Siteimprove)

• Social Media Certificate (Nov. 2024)
• Web Content Creator Certificate (Nov. 2024)
• PDF Creator Certificate (Nov. 2024)
• Graphic Design Certificate (Oct. 2024)

Publications

NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring & Observing

• Cover image, Arctic Report Card (Dec. 2025)
  • Arctic Report Card 2025

Oregon State University

• Undergraduate thesis, “Investigating physical drivers of phytoplankton bloom initiation in the Northern Gulf of Alaska,” mentored by Dr. Seth Danielson (UAF) and Dr. Maria Kavanaugh (OSU) (Mar. 2024)
  • Honors College Thesis

Volunteering

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

• Special Events greeter (Jul. 2025 – Present)
• Oregon Science Festival booth educator (Sept. 2025)

National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB)

• Salmon Bowl rules judge (Feb. 2026)
• Virtual Finals monitor and scorekeeper (May 2025)

MATE ROV

• Oregon Regional marketing poster judge (May 2025)

National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS)

• NERSS Film Festival judge (Oct. 2024)

Oregon State University

• Visualize Your Bibliography Competition for Grad Students judge (May 2023)
• Science & Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) Middle School and High School Challenge mentor (Apr. 2023)
• Discovering the Scientist Within (DSW) mentor (Mar. 2023)
• ​Juntos Para Una Mejor Educación program mentor (Sept. 2019)

Skills