Kimberly Stewart
Dr. Kimberly Stewart is the Executive Director of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST; the Founder and Director of the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN); and an Associate Professor of Exotic and Avian Medicine at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) in St. Kitts. She is a Biology graduate of Georgia Southern University (GSU) (Bachelor and MSc) and a DVM and PhD graduate of RUSVM. A native of Statesboro, Georgia, USA; Georgia is where she was introduced to sea turtles, first as an intern with the St. Catherines Island Sea Turtle Program and then with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on Sapelo Island. When she moved to St. Kitts to attend veterinary school she recognized the need for the development of a formal sea turtle program and this led to the establishment of the SKSTMN in January 2003. Since that time, under Dr. Stewart’s leadership the SKSTMN has since grown to include both morning and night patrols for all species nesting on the island; in- water capture of foraging juveniles; a sea turtle health assessment program; sustainable livelihood development; and a conservation and sea turtle health education program. She has served as the St. Kitts WIDECAST Country Coordinator since 2007 and in 2023 was selected to serve as the WIDECAST Executive Director.
As Executive Director, Dr. Stewart guides collaboration across 45 countries (with various stakeholders including biologists, policymakers, educators, from both the governmental and non governmental sectors) towards science-based reduction of threats to sea turtle survival and increasing community engagement in conservation efforts. Dr. Stewart sits on a number of national and international environmental stewardship committees in St. Kitts including the St. Kitts Sustainable Destination Council and the UNESCO St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve Bureau Committee; the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International Marine Turtle Expert Advisory Group; and the IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group. Under her leadership, the SKSTMN has been the recipient of both the Sustainable Tourism and Most Eco-Friendly Business Award from the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. She has been the recipient of the International Sea Turtle Society’s Champions Award, Adtalem Global Education’s Doing Well by Doing Good Award; RUSVM’s Inaugural Alumni Distinguished Service/Research Award; and the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) Community Outreach Excellence Award (COE). Dr. Stewart’s research and teaching interests focus on the management and health of nesting and foraging populations of leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtle populations in St. Kitts and in exposing youth and veterinary students to the opportunities in sea turtle conservation as they relate to management, education, and health.
​
Join Kimberly for a dive/snorkel to observe one of Saba’s most iconic underwater creatures. Then, find out how you can contribute to sea turtle monitoring!
​
Kimberly will be on Saba October 20-27.
Presentation: October 25
Field Project: October 26