LAYTON, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2025)– The Keys Marine Laboratory (KML) is excited to announce the appointment of Kim Gregory as its new Director of Development and Community Engagement. Bringing over 14 years of experience in fundraising and community outreach, Kim is poised to enhance KML’s initiatives and foster deeper connections within the Florida Keys community and beyond.
Kim played a pivotal role in raising over $16 million for Fishermen’s Community Hospital through a Capital Campaign following Hurricane Irma. Most recently, she led fundraising efforts for MarineLab and the Marine Resources Development Foundation in Key Largo, cultivating relationships with donors, government officials and business leaders.
“I am thrilled to welcome Kim to our KML Team, and I am eager to work closely with her to expand the KML vision,” said Dr. Cindy Lewis, director of the Keys Marine Laboratory.
KML, a full-service marine field station operating since 1992, is located on 8 acres in Long Key within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and supports research on unique subtropical, tropical, and terrestrial ecosystems. Operated by the University of South Florida’s Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), KML collaborates with FIO’s consortium of 32 public and private institutions, state and federal agencies, and marine research organizations, supporting nearly 800 researchers annually. Since 2015, over 2,300 undergraduate students, 750 master’s and doctoral candidates, and 2,000 faculty and researchers have contributed to over 500 peer-reviewed publications at KML.
In 2023, amidst record heat and an unprecedented coral bleaching event, KML provided refuge for over 5,000 corals, including eight coral species federally listed as endangered or threatened. The facility features over 60 temperature-controlled seawater tables and tanks, four near-shore research vessels, experienced staff scientists, and partnerships with local Keys organizations that use its facilities including the Coral Restoration Foundation, I. CARE, Reef Renewal USA, Mote Marine Laboratory and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Keys Marine Laboratory provides important infrastructure and support for a variety of ongoing research projects, including seasonal ciguatera monitoring, sawfish population monitoring and tagging, seagrass bed assessments and restoration, sponge restoration, urchin aquaculture and grow-out, coral disease research, ocean current monitoring and much more.
Looking ahead, KML is launching a $60 million capital campaign to modernize and expand its facilities, including storm-resistant housing, laboratories, and classrooms. These upgrades will enhance research and restoration efforts, ensuring the protection of marine ecosystems for future generations.