Acercarnos Solutions, LLC - Coastal Ecology & Program Evaluation Consulting

Our Team

Corey Payne, PhD

Independent Program Evaluation Consultant

Specializing in Federally Funded Higher Education Initiatives

I am an independent program evaluation consultant with extensive experience supporting federally funded higher education initiatives, including Department of Education–aligned grants. I partner with universities and cross-institutional teams to design and implement rigorous formative and summative evaluation frameworks that strengthen program effectiveness and ensure federal compliance.

I have led large-scale evaluations across multi-institution partnerships, including Minority Serving Institutions, with responsibility for evaluation design, instrument development, data collection, analysis, and reporting. My work supports grant competitiveness, performance metric alignment, and actionable continuous improvement.

Julie Walker, PhD

Interdisciplinary Ecologist & Coastal Ecosystem Specialist

Coastal Ecosystems, Climate Resilience & Adaptive Management

I am an interdisciplinary ecologist specializing in coastal ecosystems, with a focus on how climate change and human modifications influence the structure, function, and resilience of saltmarsh and mangrove systems. My research integrates field-based studies, geospatial analysis, and historical data to assess ecosystem vulnerability to sea-level rise and inform adaptive management strategies.

My work spans academia, government, and applied management contexts. In my role as Program Manager for the MassMarsh program, I lead an interdisciplinary network of academic, NGO, and government partners to support coordinated monitoring and management of Massachusetts salt marshes. My earlier experience with the Chesapeake Bay Program and as a Visiting Assistant Professor reflects my commitment to science communication, education, and the integration of research into policy and practice.

Featured

IN THE NEWS UF Center for Coastal Solutions | November 26, 2024

Julie Walker Confronts Gators — and Other Surprises — in Pursuit of Science

"Being in water is so peaceful; it dulls your other senses, allowing you to hone in on being part of nature… you're entering a world that you wouldn't know about if you were standing on the shore."

Julie Walker has always embraced a challenge, even if it means facing down an alligator to check on her field experiments. During her doctoral studies, she once spotted what appeared to be an alligator's head floating near her work site in the marsh. After waiting for 30 minutes, she used a stick to scare it off, before carefully approaching — only to find it was just a pool thermometer shaped like an alligator's head. That spirit of determination and resilience has been a hallmark of Walker's work throughout her career.

As a graduate student at UF, Walker studied how climate change-driven mangrove migration into salt marshes impacts local plant and animal habitats. Her versatility became evident as she conducted grueling field experiments in mangroves, large-scale mesocosm experiments, collected and analyzed hundreds of hours of video feeds for fish behavior, and took deep dives into policy.

Today, as a postdoctoral fellow with the University of Massachusetts Amherst and United States Geological Survey (USGS), Walker is focused on identifying gaps in salt marsh data, particularly regarding the impact of ditches in the northeastern United States. Walker and her team are working to map ditch locations from Maine to Virginia, aiming to prioritize remediation efforts to protect these crucial ecosystems.

"This is the kind of science I'm interested in," said Walker. "It's data-driven and informs a specific management suggestion. To solve these bigger world issues, we need a diverse team."

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IN THE NEWS WUFT News | May 3, 2024

March of the Mangroves: Climate Barometers and Florida's Coastal Future

"There's been a long history of mangroves moving in and out of the area. That longer arc of history can help show how past people lived with mangroves."

Julie Walker, an interdisciplinary ecologist specializing in coastal systems, calls mangroves a "climate barometer" — a living indicator of how our planet's climate is changing. As mangroves expand northward into Florida due to warming temperatures and fewer harsh freezes, they're reshaping coastal ecosystems and creating new opportunities for understanding climate adaptation.

Walker's research demonstrates how mangroves serve as powerful nature-based solutions for climate change, storing carbon at rates 10 times greater than mature tropical forests. She emphasizes that understanding the historical movement of these ecosystems provides crucial insights into how human communities can adapt to environmental shifts.

From protecting saltmarsh habitats to informing coastal resilience strategies, Walker's work bridges ecology, policy, and community engagement. "To solve these bigger world issues, we need a diverse team," she explains, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental challenges.

Her research into mangrove migration patterns contributes to broader conversations about coastal protection, ecosystem management, and how Florida communities can learn to live with — rather than against — the iconic trees reshaping the state's shorelines.

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Areas of Expertise

Our combined expertise spans program evaluation, coastal ecology, geospatial analysis, and stakeholder engagement. We bring rigorous scientific methods and practical problem-solving to complex, multi-disciplinary challenges.

Program Evaluation

Corey Payne, PhD

Mixed-method evaluation design
Qualitative and quantitative data analysis
Survey and instrument development
Structured stakeholder interviews
Longitudinal outcome tracking
Alignment with Department of Education performance indicators
Federal reporting compliance and documentation
Clear, actionable evaluation reporting

Coastal Ecology

Julie Walker, PhD

Coastal wetland ecology (saltmarsh & mangrove systems)
Climate change impacts and sea-level rise vulnerability
Geospatial analysis (Esri ArcGIS Online & Pro)
Field-based ecological research and monitoring design
Nature-based solutions and restoration planning
Stakeholder engagement and coalition building
Science communication and technical writing
Interdisciplinary program coordination

Services

Program Evaluation

Formative and summative evaluation design
Evaluation methodology for federal grant proposals
Title III, Title V, TRIO & related program evaluation
Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
Stakeholder engagement & interview design
Performance metric alignment & federal reporting
Action-oriented evaluation reporting

Coastal Ecology & Geospatial Analysis

Coastal wetland assessment and monitoring
GIS mapping and geospatial analysis (ArcGIS Online & Pro)
Climate change vulnerability assessment
Data hubs and interactive dashboards
Nature-based solutions planning
StoryMaps development
Geodatabase design and management

Research & Data Management

Literature reviews and synthesis of best available science
Data reviews, assessments, and gap analyses
Statistical analysis (R, SPSS)
Database design (Excel, Access, SQL Server)
Data management plan development
Qualitative analysis and conceptual modeling
White paper development

Engagement & Communication

Stakeholder engagement & facilitation
Partnership development and coalition building
Science communication for diverse audiences
Technical report writing and review
Monitoring and data collection planning
Participatory mapping and process facilitation
Website design and management

Acercarnos Solutions

Our Team

Corey Payne, PhD

Julie Walker, PhD

Featured

Julie Walker Confronts Gators — and Other Surprises — in Pursuit of Science

March of the Mangroves: Climate Barometers and Florida's Coastal Future

Areas of Expertise

Program Evaluation

Coastal Ecology

Services

Program Evaluation

Coastal Ecology & Geospatial Analysis

Research & Data Management

Engagement & Communication

Our Approach

Contact Us

Corey Payne, PhD

Julie Walker, PhD