We recently had the chance to connect with Jasmin Graham and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Jasmin, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have really been enjoying playing video games lately
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jasmin Graham, and I am a marine biologist, science communicator, and the President & CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS). MISS is an organization I co-founded to create a more equitable, inclusive space in marine science, while also breaking down barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from pursuing careers in this field. We are passionate about providing hands-on opportunities, mentorship, and community support to inspire the next generation of ocean leaders.
What makes MISS unique is that we don’t just focus on research—we focus on people. We believe conservation is stronger and more effective when everyone has a seat at the table, and that diversity of thought and lived experience leads to better science and more resilient solutions. For me personally, this work is deeply tied to my own story of navigating challenges in shark research and finding power in community.
Right now, I’m working on expanding MISS’s youth engagement programs and building partnerships that connect local communities to global marine conservation efforts. Whether it’s introducing students to sharks for the first time or shaping fisheries policy conversations, I’m excited about bridging science, education, and equity to build a future where both people and oceans thrive.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Some of the professors I worked with in undergrad saw me as a scientists long before I ever could. They surrounded me with mentorship and never once gave an indication they doubted I’d succeed at anything. I remember them recommending I apply for what I now know are prestigious internships and graduate research fellowships. I say that because they never let on how truly competetive these programs were. They talked about them like there was no doubt in their mind I would receive them. It wasn’t until I got them and would mention to people that I had been awarded them and have them react strongly that I knew it was something rare. Gavin, Deb and Gorka always believed in me and they have never doubted my ability to do anything. They showed me the many paths I could take to get to where I was going and never doubted I’d end up exactly where I was supposed to be.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
As I entered the science space I spent a lot of time trying to conform or assimilate at first. I slightly modified the way I dressed, did my hair and even the way I spoke. I worked really hard and was terrified of falling short of being perfect. Being the only person who looks like you in pretty much every professional space you enter starts to weigh on you, and then add to that microagressions and imposter syndrome and scientific spaces became very uncomfortable for me. I felt like I was under a microscope and that I had to be perfect. Then I realized no matter how hard I tried the microagressions still happened, people still doubted me and nothing I did was going to change the way some people acted around me and that ultimately those people didn’t matter. I had been quiet and reserved and accepting the way things were because I didn’t want to rock the boat. Then at some point I decided the boat was worth rocking, I couldn’t go on like that. I had reached a fork in the road: change the system or leave the system. I decided if I was gonna leave I may as well shake things up on my way out just in case the system could change. I quickly found my power. The status quo is only maintained by complacency as soon as we start to question the status quo, you can dismantle it.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie I think regarding science is that it is a meritocracy; no matter who you are, where you come from, your background etc. you have as equal a chance at succeeding if you just work hard. That’s just not true. Some people get dealt a really nice hand, they go to a school with a strong science and math program, they live in an area where there are a lot of opportunities to engage in science outside the classroom or they have parents who can afford to send them to get those opportunities or pay for them to participate in them. There are people who don’t have to worry about paying their tuition, or rent, or food etc. in school and can volunteer in labs and do unpaid internships and gain experience while in undergrad. There are people who have people in their lives to help them navigate grad school, or apply for jobs in science. Then there are people who happen to be born in an area or a situation where they don’t have access to hands-on science at a young age, they are working a full-time job trying to put themselves through school and paid internships are few and far between so they don’t get a chance to get experiences during college. Then they finish and have very little guidance on next steps. That’s before we even get into the field where people are hiring people or selecting students based on often arbitrary metrics without a rubric to guide them. More often than not it’s about who you know and less about what you know. Working hard helps, but some people have to work way harder just to get to the starting line.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m out on the water listening to the waves gently crash against the side of the boat as seabirds soar, fish jump and the wind whistles softly. The ocean is my happy place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.misselasmo.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss_elasmo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minorities-in-shark-sciences/
- Twitter: https://x.com/miss_elasmo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misselasmo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MinoritiesinSharkSciences
Image Credits
Minorities in Shark Sciences
