Jasmin Graham is a shark scientist and environmental educator who specializes in elasmobranch (shark and ray) ecology and evolution. Her research interests include human impacts and environmental disturbances on sharks and rays. She serves on the Board of Directors as well as the Equity and Diversity Committee for the American Elasmobranch Society.
Jasmin is a leading figure in marine biology, renowned for her innovative research and passionate advocacy for ocean conservation. As the President and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), Graham has been instrumental in supporting women of color in shark sciences. Her groundbreaking research focuses on the ecology and conservation of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays), emphasizing the importance of protecting these vital species and their habitats.
As a young black female scientist, she faced numerous challenges within the traditional confines of academia. She found strength and an innate connection in one of nature’s most misunderstood, yet resilient, creatures—the shark. Despite being denser than water, sharks stay afloat by constantly moving, a lesson Graham applied to her own life and career.
Graham’s memoir, Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist, is a riveting and moving account of her journey. It intertwines science and social justice, offering insights on how we can all learn to respect and protect some of nature’s most vulnerable creatures—and grant the same grace to ourselves.
With her unique blend of scientific expertise and personal experience, Graham brings a powerful message of perseverance, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship to her talks. In humorous and approachable keynotes or in-conversation formats, Graham talks about the importance of biodiversity in our oceans, the need for inclusion and diversity in conservation work, and the unique biology and ecology of sharks.
Jasmin was named the 2021 WWF Conservation Leader. She has a passion for science education and making science more accessible to everyone. She is project coordinator for the MarSci-LACE project, which is focused on researching and promoting best practices to recruit, support and retain minority students in marine science. Jasmin is the President and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to supporting gender minorities of color in shark sciences. She is excited to help open doors for more underrepresented minority students to join the exciting field of marine science.
Jasmin’s work encompasses the areas of science communication, social justice, outreach, education and conservation. She cares deeply about protecting endangered and vulnerable marine species, particularly elasmobranchs. She directed and hosted a series on PBS Terra called Sharks Unknown with Jasmin Graham, and has edited and contributed to several books with her own memoir, Sharks Don’t Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist, to be showcased at the Lunch With Books event.
She has been featured on “Dive In with Sylvia Earle” and “StarTalk with Neil DeGrasse Tyson” as well as several other podcasts and webinar series.
Jasmin graduated from the College of Charleston in 2017 with a B.S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Spanish. She went on to receive her MSc. in Biological Science from Florida State University through the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Ann Thomas was a Civil Rights pioneer, a courageous and genuinely kind woman, and a dedicated patron of the library and library programs. After she passed on February 22, 2019 (having bravely battled cancer and endured suffering for many years), the Library decided to create an annual memorial lecture series in her honor.
Previous distinguished guests of the Ann Thomas Memorial Lecture Series have included Carnegie Mellon University historian Dr. Joe Trotter, award-winning author Crystal Wilkinson, author Dr. William Turner, author Michelle Duster (the great-granddaughetr of Ida B. Welles), Driving the Green Book author Alvin Hall, and school desegregation pieoneer Dr. Betty Kilby Fisher Baldwin.
Lunch With Books programs are held in the Harold E. Vitalie Auditorium on the lower level of the Library. For more information, visit www.ohiocountylibrary.org or call 304-232-0244.
