Tori Hunt is a science communicator and educator based out of North Carolina. She is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and attended Appalachian State University, where she earned a degree in Chemistry with a Concentration in Secondary Education. Post-graduation, she followed her passion for science education into the high school classroom to teach Earth and Environmental Science and Physical Science.

Outside of the classroom, Tori also served as a Science Communication Fellow for Ocean Exploration Trust’s 2023 expedition season and sailed as a crew member aboard E/V Nautilus for expedition NA154 Ala ‘Aumoana Kai Uli (Path of the Deep Sea Traveler). During this voyage, they utilized seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicles to explore unseen deep-sea habitats in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (the largest marine protected area in the United States). This immersive experience not only deepened her connection to the ocean but also ignited her passion for ocean advocacy, as well as providing youth with opportunities to explore and learn more about the ocean.