Madena is a Duke University undergraduate sophomore and a Rachel Carson Scholar. She studies Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Biology and a certificate in Marine Science and Conservation Leadership (pre-law track). In general, Madena is interested in studying interdisciplinary approaches to manage coastal marine ecosystems and evaluating their effectiveness at conserving and protecting ecological interactions and social benefits of these systems. Her current research is focused on understanding the role of mesopredators in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as their cascading trophic impacts on ecosystems. In the future, she aspires to become a marine environmental lawyer to protect threatened marine and coastal ecosystems. Madena’s research will enable her to create science informed policy to protect marine ecosystems from anthropogenic disturbances.