Dr. Jeffrey C. Carrier

Scientist • Mentor • Leader in the American Elasmobranch Society


Dr. Jeffrey “Jeff” Carrier devoted his life to sharks, science, and people. For decades, he shaped the American Elasmobranch Society not only through his research, but through his mentorship, service, and unwavering commitment to community.

In July 2026, colleagues, students, and friends will gather at the American Elasmobranch Society annual meeting to honor Jeff’s life and legacy through a dedicated memorial symposium and the establishment of a new award that will honor service and mentorship in Jeff’s name.

The Symposium

Sharks of the Shallows: A Tribute to the Life and Work of Dr. Jeffrey C. Carrier

The Proposed New Award

The AES Jeffrey C. Carrier Meritorious Service Award

Share a Memory
Make a Contribution or Pledge
View Photos of Jeff


Please help us reach our $20,000 goal to honor Jeff’s legacy. Contributions of any size are welcome and deeply appreciated.

For questions, email DrNickWhitney at gmail dot com.




Carrier Memorial Donors

Great thanks to the donors and supporters below for contributing in Jeff’s memory.


Platinum — $1,000 and over

Aka: Gravid Female Nurse Shark Level

The ultimate powerhouse level: mature, resilient, and making an outsized contribution to the next generation.

Carol Carrier, (Beloved wife of Jeff Carrier)
Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation (AES; colleague/collaborator) Anonymous (AES; colleague/collaborator)


Gold — $500 and over

Aka: Adult Nurse Shark Level

Mature, long-lived, and ready to contribute to population growth.

Julie Voigt (Friend)
Susan Elizabeth Birtch Geisler (former student, Albion)
Innovosea (Telemetry provider and institutional supporter)
Anonymous (colleague/friend/AES)
Derek Burkholder (Albion, AES)
Toby Daly-Engel (AES)
Nick and Holli Whitney (Albion, AES)
Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Nova Southeastern University (institutional supporter)


Silver — $100 and over

Aka: Juvenile Nurse Shark Level

Three- to five-footers, hanging out together under a reef ledge, wily, flexible, and able to bite their own tail.

Harold “Wes” Pratt (Colleague/collaborator/friend) Andrew French (Albion Colleague/collaborator, Friend, Fellow weekend woodworker)
Frank Murru (colleague/collaborator/friend)
Greg Skomal (colleague/collaborator/friend/AES)
Lisa Whitenack (colleague/collaborator/friend/AES)
Kelly Jenkins (former student, Albion)
Matthew Smukall (colleague/collaborator/friend)
Anonymous (colleague, AES)
Hallprint Pty Ltd (aware of his good work through Nick Whitney)
Michael Heithaus (colleague/friend/AES)
Anonymous (colleague/friend/AES)
Caroline Collatos(colleague/collaborator, friend, AES)
Anonymous (colleague, AES)
Mike and Linda Whitney (friends, Albion)
Sharks4Kids (former student, colleague/collaborator, friend)
Jacquelyn Hauser (former student, Albion)
Ann and Hugh Hasley (parents of former Albion student, Dr. Andrew Hasley)
Kimberly B. Ritchie (colleague/collaborator, friend, professional acquaintance)
Carylanne Joubert Maier and Joey Maier (professional acquaintances)
David H. Evans, University of Florida (colleague/collaborator; Jeff’s Ph.D. advisor)
Ari Rojas Corzo, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (colleague/collaborator)
Beth Bowers, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (colleague/collaborator/friend)
Lisa Swanson, Newfound Harbor Marine Institute (colleague/collaborator)
Lisa Lewis, Craig & Rachel Bieler, Albion College (Albion colleagues/friends)
Peter Mitchell, Albion College President Emeritus (Albion colleague)
Hugh M. Sanchez (Albion student)
Christine Bratton-Heilman (Albion student)


Bronze — up to $99

Aka: Young-of-the-Year Nurse Shark Level

So adorable with their spots and umbilical scars. They are the future.

James Russell III (friend of Dr. Whitney)
Stephanie Thurner (mentee/Albion)
Anonymous (friend)
Naomi Scott (student) Christy Starsinic (professional acquaintance)
Eloise Cave (colleague/collaborator/friend)
Hau Mai (friend)
Jon Krisbergh (Seacamper)
Jo Deutsch (Miami Killian High School student and life-long friend)


Please help us reach our $25,000 goal to honor Jeff’s legacy by sharing this site or posting a photo, comment, or story at the Carrier Symposium Event Page.





Share a Memory of Jeff

Please use the guestbook below to share a memory, story, reflection, or note about Jeff. Messages will appear publicly.

17 entries.
Jim Beck Jim Beck from Washington DC wrote on July 18, 2026 at 11:23 pm
The good Dr. Carrier offered me several memorable and meaningful opportunities at Albion including local research contributions, door openings to great internship at Shedd Aquarium, testing waters of research at Duke University Marine Lab, chasing nurse sharks almost all the way to Cuba ((not quite but felt that way) at the Dry Tortugas, and a related senior thesis. Indeed he is the reason I came to Albion. Happened to encounter a certain Morley Fraser at a critical time when I was sorting out where to for undergrad, and he introduced me to Dr. Carrier. Grateful for the opportunities offered and trust placed in me. While I didn’t pursue the work with the cartilaginous fishes and got sidetracked with bony fishes in peace corps, my time with Dr Carrier at Albion was foundational. Very thankful! Onward!
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Andrew French Andrew French wrote on July 11, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Jeff was a mentor, friend and fellow woodworker. I will miss all he brought to me, our community, and Albion College. A true leader.
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Frank Murru Frank Murru wrote on July 11, 2026 at 12:23 pm
Jeff was the backbone of AES for many years, a colleague, and a friend.
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Susan Elizabeth Birtch Geisler Susan Elizabeth Birtch Geisler wrote on July 11, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Dr. Carrier was one of my favorite professors.
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Greg Skomal Greg Skomal from New Bedford wrote on July 9, 2026 at 12:25 pm
I met Jeff decades ago when I was a grad student working for Wes Pratt. Jeff and Wes were starting their research on nurse sharks in the Dry Tortugas, and I was green with envy. It was also a time when AES was going through some growing pains, when the annual meetings were a little less tempered, and when Jeff was, at times, the only voice of reason. I miss his thoughtful approach, his willingness to help, and his wealth of information. I will always remember him as a ground-breaking biologist, mentor, colleague, and friend.
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Tom Myers Tom Myers from Satellite Beach wrote on July 7, 2026 at 3:51 am
Jeff was my Shark Research instructor ca. 1977 in Seacamp. "There once was a lady from Guam, She said the Pacific's so calm, She swam after dark, She met a large shark, Let's all sing the 23rd Psalm." Observed on Jeff's blackboard in 1977 — our introduction, and later our foray into his work in Coupon Bight. Remembered 50 yrs later.
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Lisa Whitenack Lisa Whitenack from Meadville, PA wrote on June 29, 2026 at 9:03 pm
Jeff has been an incredible mentor and friend. He showed me that you can be both a dedicated educator and an excellent scientist at the same time. He serves as my model for how to lead from both the heart and the head. There have been so many times in the last year where I have gone to email him with a question or something I'd thought he'd get a kick out of… I am lucky that he was in my life for the time that he was.
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Kelly Jenkins Kelly Jenkins from Poway wrote on June 29, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Jeff was my undergraduate advisor and the reason I got into Marine Science ultimately leading to a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in Marine Natural Products. He was a great professor and mentor who will be sorely missed. I fondly remember the first set of tanks we installed in the basement of the biology building at Albion and then driving to the nearby airport to pickup our first nurse sharks. The airport employees were very perplexed by the two large wood crates that said "handle with care, Live Sharks".
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Anonymous Anonymous wrote on June 26, 2026 at 3:07 am
Jeff was a wonderful person/mentor. AES isn't the same without him.
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Michelle Heupel Michelle Heupel wrote on June 16, 2026 at 2:11 am
Jeff was a great friend and trusted colleague. He was always available to discuss ideas, listen to concerns and provide support. He made supporting and promoting others look enjoyable and effortless. The science community needs more people like him. He is dearly missed.
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Caroline Collatos Caroline Collatos from Boston wrote on June 15, 2026 at 11:22 pm
Jeff was a mentor and dear friend to my PhD advisor, Nick Whitney, as well as to fellow scientists and close friends Emily and Andrew Wooley. Long before I met him, I had already heard countless stories about his generosity, mentorship, and passion for shark science. It was a true honor to know Jeff and to share time with him at the Wooleys' wedding, at AES, and through the many stories and memories shared by Nick and others. Jeff's legacy extends far beyond his scientific contributions; his mentorship, kindness, and enthusiasm have left a lasting impact on those who knew him. His influence will continue to inspire shark scientists and more for generations to come.
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Nick Whitney Nick Whitney wrote on June 13, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Jeff was my undergraduate advisor at Albion and original shark mentor. He introduced me to sharks, the Dry Tortugas, and Wes Pratt! Of course his mentorship didn't stop when I graduated, and he was the first call I made when I defended my PhD (he insisted). I owe my scientific career to Jeff and am awed by the impact he had on others as well.
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Peter Tislove Mitchell Peter Tislove Mitchell wrote on June 13, 2026 at 4:47 pm
In additional to being an exceptional scholar and teacher, Jeff was a visionary and inspiring leader as Provost of Albion College.
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Lisa Swanson Lisa Swanson wrote on June 13, 2026 at 4:45 pm
Great man who loved to mentor young scientists!
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David H Evans David H Evans wrote on June 13, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Jeff was my Ph.D student at the U of Miami in the early 1970s. I was always proud of all he accomplished in elasmobranch biology.
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Carylanne Joubert Maier and Joey Maier Carylanne Joubert Maier and Joey Maier wrote on June 13, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Dr. Carrier was an amazing man. A very knowledgeable scientist, supporter of students, and kind and welcoming to all, certainly things many of the organizers know from their own personal experience, but he was also great with the public and getting them on board with shark science. His contributions not just to science communication but in getting people into the science are well worth acknowledging. My wonderful experience tagging a sandbar shark with him, Derek Burkholder, and Beth Bowers were crucial to rekindling my interest in science, which also led me to meet others who have supported and encouraged me to go back. I don't think I would be anywhere near where I am today if I had not had such a great experience tagging sharks with Jeff guiding me.
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Ann and Hugh Hasley Ann and Hugh Hasley wrote on June 13, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Our son Andrew graduated from Albion with an undergraduate degree in Biology in 2007. Jeff was a longstanding mentor of his; they traveled to Florida together on an Albion “”expedition.“ I’m sure that Jeff’s continued confidence in him assured Andrew that he was capable enough to succeed. He received his PhD and now works as an NIH contractor. We appreciate Jeff’s contribution to his success!Thank you.
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A few images to remember Jeff…

  • young Jeff in early Albion days