Community Coalition

Laura Picariello joined Texas Sea Grant in June 2018. Her primary focus is on helping commercial and recreational fishing communities understand and utilize the latest in fisheries technology, research and management to develop applicable solutions to problems facing their communities. Picariello currently works with the Texas shrimp industry and assists the PEOPLE Centered Lab with connecting with area fishermen.

Crystal manages a fishing dock in Galveston and is active in the Texas Shrimping Association.

Elizabeth (Chiqui) is the Executive Director of Galveston-Houston Immigrant Representation Project (GHIRP), founded in 2020. Chiqui has devoted her professional career to providing high quality legal services to immigrants at non-profit organizations. Prior to starting GHIRP, she was the Director of Immigration Legal Services at the YMCA International Services (2017-2020). Her team frequents our Docside Clinic to assist fishermen with needed immigration paperwork.

Jim manages the Galveston Seafarers Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of all mariners.

Thur is the fisheries extension agent at Louisiana Sea Grant. As a fisheries extension agent, she is primary responsible for the planning, execution, and evaluation of programs for fishermen.

As the Executive Director of St. Vincent’s House (SVH), Paula continues to raise the bar in finding ways for the organization to be as impactful as possible, developing strong community and inter-agency collaborations as well as building new avenues of support to better serve SVH clients. She is passionate about the mission and vision of SVH to be “a beacon of Hope and healing for all of God’s people.”

Social worker for St. Vincent’s, Grace Mobile Clinic and Hospital to Home Program, Galveston, under the Department of Community and Population Health

Nikki Fitzgerald graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science in 2007 and has her masters from Lamar University. Nikki recently joined Texas Sea Grant as the Chambers and Jefferson County Texas AgriLife Marine and Coastal Resources Agent. Fitzgerald worked for years as a biology and environmental science teacher where she was awarded Teacher of the Year from Region IV and Soil Conservation Science Teacher of the Year for her region.

Marine Inspector at U.S. Coast Guard

Secretary General at Apostleship of the Sea of the United States of America. Facilitator of Cruise Ship Priest Program.

Kelly Cruz-Boyer is responsible for the outreach, compliance, administration, and reporting for 4 core program areas at the Galveston County Food Bank - Children's Programs, Senior Programs, Agency Services, Mobile Food Distributions. Each program must adhere to policies and guidelines provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture.