Perez is the founder of 500 Sails, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to reviving traditional seafaring knowledge in the Mariana Islands while promoting environmental stewardship and cultural sustainability. Her work with 500 Sails has been widely recognized for strengthening community connections to the ocean and advancing education rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems.

In her new role at UOG CIS & Sea Grant, Perez will oversee fiscal operations and financial management, supporting grants that address island sustainability, coastal resilience, climate adaptation, and marine resource stewardship across Guam and Micronesia.

Perez brings more than forty years of finance experience, much of it serving nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Throughout her career, she has been known for combining rigorous financial oversight with a deep understanding of organizational values, ensuring that limited resources are managed responsibly and strategically to maximize community impact.

“Emma’s background uniquely positions her for this role,” said Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of the UOG CIS & Sea Grant. “She understands both the technical demands of fiscal management and the cultural and environmental context in which our work takes place. We are grateful she navigated to Guam and our center as the next destination in her life journey.”

Her appointment comes at a time when UOG CIS & Sea Grant continues to expand its research, education, and community outreach efforts in response to environmental challenges facing island communities.

Perez said she looks forward to supporting the center’s mission. “The work of CIS & Sea Grant is critical for the future of our islands,” she said. “I’m honored to contribute my experience in service of sustainability, community, and our ocean. My family has been a part of UOG for generations and I am excited to begin my new voyage here.”