About

Certifications

Nova on assignment for Ocean Exploration Trust. Photo by Jennie Berglund

Owned

Panasonic Lumix GH5
Lumix G Vario 7-14
M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm f/2.8
Canon 24-105mm
Metabones EF-MFT T Cine XL 0.64x Speed Booster
Nauticam Underwater Housing
GoPro 11 + Accessories
AC/DIT Kit
Scuba/Freedive Kit

Operated

RED Komodo
Canon 5D Mk iii + iv, C300
Sony A1, A7siii, FX3, FS7, & FX9
Ronin Gimbals
Rode Mic Kits
DJI Drones
EZ Rig
Dana Dolly

Software

Adobe Suite
Microsoft Office
Synology
Shotput Pro
DaVinci Resolve
Windows PC and Mac OS

Grants + Awards

Conservation Nation Firefly Grant | 2024
iLCP Emerging League Member | 2024
Ocean Culture Life Storyteller Grant | 2024
National Geographic Storytelling Explorer Grant | 2023
Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellow | 2023
San Diego Environmental Film Festival People’s Choice Award | 2022
Primetime Emmy Awards, Penguin Town | 2021-2022
Conservation Nation Emerging Conservationist Grant | 2021
Primetime Emmy Awards, Secrets of the Whales | 2020-2021

You can learn more about Nova's grant projects here!

Nova West, Nicole Morris, and Angel Morris presenting Diving for Rays at the first annual San Diego Environmental Film Festival

Nova speaking at the 2023 Jackson Wild Summit. Photo by Angel Morris

Speaking Engagements

Gen-Sea: Inclusivity Under the Waves Panelist | 2024
   Wildscreen Festival, Bristol
Team Lead | 2024
   National Geographic Photo Camp, Indiana
Photographic Storytelling Workshop Presenter | 2024
   2892 Miles to Go, National Geographic
Ship-to-Shore Interactions | 2021 - 2024
   Ocean Exploration Trust aboard the E/V Nautilus
Out in the Wild Panelist | 2023
   Jackson Wild Summit
Presenter and Film Premiere | 2022
   Texas A&M University, Galveston
Explore Your Ocean Panelist | 2022
   Explore Your Universe, UCLA
Youth Advisory Council Speaker | 2022
   Conservation Nation

You can learn more about Nova's speaking engagements here!

Across their career, Nova has been invited to speak on several podcasts covering their story, work, adventures, projects, and personal anecdotes.
Click the tiles below to listen to the episodes released to date, and check out the 'News' tab to read more about their recent engagements.

Take the Last Bite is a podcast directly countering the Midwest Nice mentality, highlighting advocacy and activism by queer/trans communities in the Midwest.

Earth to Humans is a podcast about the interconnected nature of our planet’s overlapping crises, and the amazing humans who are fighting for a better future for all of Earth’s inhabitants.

LGBT Outdoors is a podcast serving as a tool to connect the LGBTQ+ community to the outdoors and to each other while creating a more diverse and inclusive outdoor space.

4Earth Podcast interviews guests from all over the world who share a passion for the environment, are raising environmental awareness, and are taking action to protect the environment.

Impact Storytelling is a podcast featuring accomplished professionals in the realms of conservation, filmmaking, photography, and arts who share diverse paths to creating a positive impact on our planet.

The Closing the Gap podcast highlights women and nonbinary professionals who are working in STEM & Trades fields to provide visibility for young people looking to enter the field.

Education

University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN
  Bachelor of Applied Science, concentration in music performance
  Major: Environmental and Outdoor Education
  Minor: General Studio Art

Nova on a 9 day backpacking trip in the Badlands of South Dakota to finish their degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education

Nova finishing a mural for Radical Empathy Now during the protests of 2020 in Washington, DC. Photo by Ty Kitchen

Volunteering

Camp Brave Trails | 2023 - 2024
   Camp Photographer
Jackson Wild LGBTQ+ Initiative | 2022 - 2024
   Board Member
Radical Empathy | 2020
   Mural Artist
Potomac Riverkeeper Network | 2020
   Volunteer Scientific Scuba Diver: 50 Million Mussels Project
National Geographic Diversity and Inclusion Board | 2018 - 2019
   PRIDE Co-Chair Representative
National Geographic PRIDE Founders Board | 2018 - 2019
Board Co-Chair
Partners in Education | 2017
Classroom Educator
Queer and Allied Students Union Board | 2016
Publicity Coordinator
800 hours of service
Speakers Bureau | 2016
Panelist
50 hours of service

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