Romana Tudela Chong is a board member of Friends of the Mariana Trench and a passionate advocate for ocean conservation. She previously served as Project Director for FOMT’s Solving for X: Reinventing Ocean Stewardship project, and as Senior Project Coordinator for several other initiatives, including the Mariana Trench Treasure Chest, Ocean Conservation Corps, and Project HOPE. Her leadership advanced community engagement, youth education, and marine stewardship across the CNMI. Romana’s passion for ocean conservation was sparked during her CRI Internship with the Division of Coastal and Resource Management, where she first experienced hands-on coastal protection work. She continues to champion sustainable ocean stewardship through education and collaboration.