Margo Huff ’25, ’27M

Goals have always driven Margo Huff ’25, ’27M. Even as a child, she was passionate about the environment and environmental issues and knew she would have a career in that field.

She applied that same passion to her sport of choice, volleyball. Her athletic talent enabled the Cleveland, Ohio, native to attend an out-of-state university, and she chose UNCW for its environmental science program.

“When the opportunity arose to play Division I volleyball out of state, I knew I had to take it and leverage it to both compete and learn at a high level,” she said. “My time as an undergraduate student-athlete at UNCW taught me the importance of open communication, intentional time management and diverse collaboration.”

One of her first priorities upon enrolling at UNCW was to introduce herself to her instructors to let them know that despite her busy athletic schedule, academics were a priority.

While an undergraduate student-athlete, she suffered injuries that required two surgeries. The challenge gave her perspective. “It taught me to look at things from a wholistic, team-centered standpoint,” Huff said.

“Margo is someone who would do anything for anyone on the team,” said David Fischer, who was associate head coach of the women’s volleyball program from 2015-2023 and currently serves as head coach for the beach volleyball team. “Her work ethic and positivity make everyone around her better.”

A class in tropical cyclone and precipitation forecasts led the environmental science major to minor in geospatial technologies and to pursue a master’s degree in geoscience, with a concentration in geospatial science. Her instructor was Yalei You, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Science. “On the first day of class, I handed him my resume,” she said.

While her environmental science degree gave her the education she needed to work in environmental policy, geoscience has provided the tools she will need to implement her ideas as she advances in her career.

Huff has been one of You’s research assistants since spring 2025, and she credits him with putting her in a position to land a prestigious internship this summer with Esri, a Redlands, California, company known for its GIS mapping software.

She will work alongside engineers to build a state-of-the-art spatial analysis “agent” to transform how people use ArcGIS, an interactive mapping and data analysis tool.

Her busy graduate schedule doesn’t keep her from enjoying her time in Wilmington. She plays outdoor volleyball with colleagues at Capt’n Bill’s, a local restaurant that hosts tournaments year-round. She also enjoys the beach, downtown and the Cargo District, as well as surprising friends and colleagues with freshly baked sourdough bread. 
 
Huff hopes to earn a doctorate, but she may take a break from her studies to work and learn more in her chosen field first. She doesn’t have a specific long-term career in mind but knows it will involve research and scientific discovery. 
“Eventually I see myself in a policy leadership position, where I can help implement change,” she said.