JR Derenoncourt

JR’s love for the ocean started from a very young age. Lips blue and goosebumps all over, their parents would pull them out of the Pacific Ocean just for them to cry to get back in the water. Despite being born and raised in landlocked Louisville, Kentucky, JR created an unwavering attachment to the underwater world, leading them to earn their B.S. in Aquatic Biology from University of California, Santa Barbara. A proud trans, neurodivergent, Haitian-American, JR saw a need for better representation and accessibility in marine sciences, influencing their shift in career paths to environmental education centered in equity and belonging for systematically excluded youth from the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. JR brings a wealth of experience in youth mentorship to Salted Roots, along with a deep passion for bridging knowledge gaps, celebrating each person’s unique connection to the ocean, and uplifting the next generation of ocean stewards. Outside of work, you’ll find JR staring out the window with their dog, Bodhi, training with their local swim team, and laying in the sun trying to photosynthesize.