Who We Are
meet the staff
Prassede Vella, Interim Executive Director
Prassede Vella coordinates environmental monitoring including water quality and estuarine habitat assessment. In collaboration with partners from different sectors, Prassede enjoys the challenge of investigating the sources of impairment to inform decision-making and advance local action. Among other things, she manages the Healthy Estuary Grant program that provides funding and technical support to communities and organizations for projects to promote natural resource management and restore and protect estuarine habitats. She holds a B.Sc. in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Malta, a M.Sc. in Biology (Marine) from the University of Malta, and a M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Jill Carr, Program Manager, Coastal Habitat Restoration and Data Quality
Jill Carr specializes in coordinating environmental monitoring and coastal habitat mapping projects. She provides technical assistance to nongovernmental organizations by assisting them with project planning, data analysis, and visualization, and getting their data to decision-makers. Jill enjoys interdisciplinary collaborations and research projects that influence natural resource management, and that aim to restore, inventory, and protect coastal habitats. Jill holds a B.S. in Coastal Studies from the University of Connecticut and a M.S. in Geo-information Science, Remote Sensing, from Salem State University.
Margherita Pryor, NEP Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 1
In memory of Pam DiBona,
Executive Director 2013-2025
With deep sadness we share the news that on Sunday, August 10, after a long battle with cancer, our beloved director, Pam DiBona, passed away peacefully. For more than 12 years Pam was at the helm of the MassBays National Estuary Partnership, growing it into an organization that is at the forefront of efforts empowering coastal communities to protect, restore, and enhance their coastal habitats. In her quiet, unassuming way, Pam was “a force of nature and a force for nature”. Pam was smart, passionate, and not afraid to speak her mind, yet she did it with a kind, honest, and genuine demeanor that made everyone stop and listen. I hope she knew what a great impact she had on many lives and careers. Pam will be truly missed.
