Making a Difference: HRI’s Dr. Jennifer Pollack Honored in The Bend Magazine’s 2024 “HER” Issue

Dr. Jennifer Pollack’s more than two-decade career as a marine scientist has blazed trails while helping to create pioneering conservation programs.

In recognition of her significant contributions, Pollack, who is the Larry D. McKinney Endowed Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration, was honored as one of The Bend magazine’s “HER” honorees for 2024 for the Community Visionary Award.

The award honors “those who dedicate their time, energy, talents, and resources to transform our community for the better. These individuals possess a compelling vision for the future and a commitment to overcoming obstacles in their pursuit of a greater tomorrow. Dr. Pollack’s internationally recognized leadership in restoration and conservation efforts in the Gulf serves as an inspiring testament to this. Her unwavering commitment to leaving every space she touches better than she found it exemplifies the spirit of Community Visionary award, making her a truly deserving recipient.”

During her time with HRI and in the Coastal Bend, Pollack has helped transform coastal restoration efforts, including a focus on oyster reef restoration, habitat conservation, and sustainability. Pollack’s leadership has not only advanced scientific understanding of marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico but also inspired the next generation of environmental stewards through innovative research and education programs. Supported by grants and corporate sponsors such as HEB and the Coastal Conservation Association, her projects have secured millions in funding which helps further her efforts in marine conservation even more.

Pollack was a co-founder of the innovative Sink Your Shucks™ oyster shell recycling program which has recycled more than three million pounds of oyster shell and restored more than 45 acres of oyster reef throughout the Mission-Aransas Estuary in South Texas. Sink Your Shucks™, which partners with local restaurants and oyster farms, hosts annual community restoration events at Goose Island State Park each May which attract hundreds of volunteers who help build new oyster reefs from recycled shells.

Pollack and her team are actively involved in conservation outreach across Texas, frequently presenting at events and engaging with local communities.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award and to join the ranks of such an incredible group of honorees,” Pollack said. “I would also like to recognize the remarkable women who have been honored in the past years — I am grateful to follow in their footsteps. Lastly, I want to recognize the talented and hardworking team at HRI, this award is a testament to their efforts.”

Pollack, a native of Minnesota, earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science from Northwestern University and later received her masters and doctoral degrees in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina. Pollack joined TAMU-CC in 2007 as a postdoctoral research associate and later became a professor of marine biology at TAMU-CC before starting at HRI in 2018 as chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration.

“Dr. Pollack’s work has transformed coastal restoration, with her cutting-edge efforts in oyster reef restoration and habitat conservation setting a new standard for marine conservation in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Greg Stunz, HRI’s Senior Executive Director. “As a visionary leader at HRI, Pollack not only advances scientific understanding but also empowers the next generation of environmental stewards. Her tireless dedication to conservation outreach and innovative programs is a testament to her enduring commitment to preserving our coastal ecosystems for future generations.” 

In addition to her outreach, Pollack serves on several academic and professional advisory committees, including Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Coastal Resource Advisory Committee and Oyster Advisory Committee, and the RESTORE Mississippi-Alabama Center of Excellence External Advisory Group. Her work has earned her prestigious awards such as the Conservationist of the Year from the Coastal Conservation Association Texas-Corpus Christi chapter, and has twice been a finalist for the Texas Environmental Excellence Award.

Pollack has also been published in multiple journals, including Estuaries and Coasts, Frontiers in Marine Science, and will be contributing a chapter to fellow HRI Endowed Chair Dr. Paul Montagna’s upcoming book on the future of water in Texas.

With a career dedicated to restoring marine ecosystems and empowering future environmental leaders, Pollack continues to leave an indelible mark on the Gulf of Mexico and beyond, embodying the very essence of a community visionary.