Managing Principals & Senior Scientists, Staff

Donald F. Boesch

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
P.O. Box 775
Cambridge, MD 21613

Dr. Don Boesch is a biological oceanographer who has spent much of his career leading academic research centers while also continuing to teach, conduct research and synthesize scientific knowledge to improve environmental management. Based on his childhood experiences in the bayous and wetlands of coastal Louisiana, he made up his mind in the 10th grade that he would become a marine scientist. He received a B.A. in biology from Tulane University and a Ph.D. in oceanography from the College of William and Mary. Since 1990 he has been a Professor in and President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and since 2008 also has served as Vice Chancellor for Environmental Sustainability of the University System of Maryland.

Don has conducted research on coastal and continental shelf ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, eastern Australia and the East China Sea. Presently, his research focuses on the use of science in ecosystem-based management and on assessments of the impacts of global climate change.

Don is a former President of the Estuarine Research Federation. He has served on numerous federal agency and regional advisory boards and on several standing boards and committees of the National Research Council (NRC). He is presently a member of the NRC’s Ocean Studies Board and the National Academies Committee on America’s Climate Choices. Don was the only scientist to s erve as an official advisor to both the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. He previously served as a COMPASS Scientific Advisor and is also a trustee of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Town Creek Foundation.

Steve Gaines

Marine Science Institute
Center for the Future of the Oceans
UCSB
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-6150

Steven Gaines is Director of the Marine Science Institute and Professor of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is a marine ecologist who seeks conservation solutions by building better pipelines between innovations in ocean science and effective marine policy and management. He has nearly 150 scientific publications, including 4 books. His scientific work has made extensive contributions to the design of marine reserve networks, our understanding of the impact of climate change on ocean ecosystems, and more sustainable fisheries management using market based reforms.

Steve helped develop several major programs in conservation science that bring together interdisciplinary teams to tackle problems in novel ways. Two noteworthy examples include PISCO (Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans), a long term consortium studying marine ecosystems of the west coast of the United States, and the Sustainable Fisheries Group, a collaboration between academia, NGOs, and managers that promotes the development and implementation of innovative fisheries reforms. In addition to his science contributions, Steve has been a leader in promoting more effective communication of ocean science through international courses on the Ocean Science Policy Interface, the Luce Science to Solutions program, and the Digital Ocean project, which employs social networking tools to promote more effective exchanges of ideas.

Dr. Gaines holds a PhD from Oregon State University. He has received numerous awards, including a Pew Fellowship in marine conservation.

Dawn Martin

SeaWeb
8401 Colesville Road, Ste. 500
Silver Spring MD 20910

Dawn M. Martin joined SeaWeb in 2004 as Executive Director and became President and Chair of the Board in December 2006. Under her leadership, SeaWeb established offices in France and the United Kingdom, expanded its programs by forging new alliances to protect the world's ocean, and doubled the size of its budget and staff. Martin serves as a Principal for the COMPASS partnership and on the advisory committee of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. She also sits on the Steering Committee as a founding member of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands that works to ensure implementation of the international ocean commitments made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

As an effective advocate in public policy and political circles for more than 20 years, Martin brings a multi-disciplinary approach that builds on her skills as an attorney, strategic policy professional, communications specialist and ocean conservation expert. During the Clinton/Gore Administration she held several posts, including Associate Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Previously Martin served as founding Chief Operating Officer at Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization and Political and Legislative Director for American Oceans Campaign. She co-chaired the Clean Water Network and co-authored "Estuaries on the Edge: The Vital Link Between Land and Sea."

A native of Los Angeles, California, Martin received her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University and her Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 1986. She studied international human rights and humanitarian law at the International Institute for Human Rights, Strasbourg, France and the Henry Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Geneva, Switzerland.

Vikki Spruill

The Ocean Conservancy
2029 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Vikki Spruill is the President and CEO of The Ocean Conservancy. She joined The Ocean Conservancy after more than a decade of service at SeaWeb, an organization she founded. At SeaWeb, Vikki was a pioneer in bridging gaps among academic science, media, nonprofit, public and private sectors in advancing ocean conservation beyond the traditional environmental sector. Spruill's work over the past decade has significantly contributed to the development of a sustainable seafood movement and interest in ocean issues among people in the United States. Prior to SeaWeb, Vikki held a number of senior positions in strategic communications including co-owning her own firm. Immediately prior to SeaWeb, she was a Senior VP for Ruder Finn public relations. Vikki has managed a variety of clients ranging from prestigious Washington, D.C. law firms and other professional services firms to ambitious non-profit organizations. She has led the design of several major communications initiatives that won awards for creativity and innovation.

Vikki is a frequent speaker on social marketing, communications and strategic planning. She is a member of the executive committee of the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program and a member of the conservation committee of the Sea Change Investment Fund. She was recently selected for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's Ocean Science Initiative Council and serves as a board member of SkyTruth. Most recently, Vikki founded FoundationWorks, a project working with foundations to enhance communications effectiveness for foundations and grantees.

Mike Sutton

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Center for the Future of the Oceans
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940

Michael Sutton serves as Vice President of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and directs a new program known as the Center for the Future of the Oceans. The mission of the Center is to inspire action for conservation of the oceans. The Center will work to achieve lasting marine conservation outcomes by empowering individuals and influencing policy, focusing on initiatives where the Aquarium can make a unique and valued contribution.

Previously, Mike headed the Marine Fisheries Program at the David & Lucile Packard Foundation in Los Altos, California, the largest private funder of ocean conservation efforts in North America. Earlier, he founded and directed World Wildlife Fund's Endangered Seas Campaign, a global effort to promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine fisheries. In the United States, Mike has served as a senior advisor to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State on marine fishery issues, sitting on two Federal Advisory Committees. He was a founding member of the national steering committees of both the Marine Fish Conservation Network and the Ocean Wildlife Campaign, the latter an international coalition working to conserve large pelagic fishes such as sharks, tuna, and swordfish.

Mike holds a law degree in international and natural resources law from George Washington University's National Law Center in Washington, D.C.

Steve Palumbi

Stanford University
Hopkins Marine Station
Oceanview Boulevard
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
(831) 655-6210

Steve has published over 100 papers on the genetics and ecology of a variety of marine and terrestrial systems. A major focus of Steve's laboratory work is on the conservation and management of marine populations based on insight from molecular genetics. This approach has been applied to the design and implementation of marine protected areas for conservation and fisheries enhancement, as well as to reconstruction of past population sizes of baleen whales, and the identification of whale and dolphin products available in commercial markets. He has co-organized a working group at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis on Marine Protected Areas, organized an American Association for the Advancement of Science symposium on advances in whale research, reported on marine reserves as ecosystem tools to the Pew Oceans Commission.

Communication to non-scientists is a core part of Steve's activities. He recently published The Evolution Explosion (WW Norton, NY), a book for non-scientists that exposes the impact of humans on evolution, particularly of disease and pest organisms. In addition, Steve helped write and research and also appears in a the TV series The Future is Wild (BBC, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel) that explores the way evolution may shape the animals and plants of the future world. Continuing projects include work on a new microdocumentary series called Short Attention Span Science Theater, and completion of a CD with Steve's studio band Flagella.
Steve holds a Pd.D. from the University of Washington. He has received numerous awards for research and conservation, including a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation.

Andy Rosenberg

University of New Hampshire
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
136B Morse Hall
39 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-2020

Dr. Andrew Rosenberg is a Professor in the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire where, prior to April 2004, he was dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. Over the past three years he has also been a member of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Prior to coming to UNH he was the Deputy Director of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service from 1998-2000, the senior career position in the agency. As Deputy Director he dealt with policy decisions on science and resource management issues nationwide as well as the administration of the agency. Before becoming NMFS Deputy Director, Andy was the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator. He negotiated and implemented the recovery program for New England fisheries, reversing overfishing and resource declines on George's Bank as well as other areas for groundfish and scallop fisheries. He also worked to develop and implement marine mammal recovery programs and endangered species protections throughout the northeast. He also has served as the U.S. lead representative in several international fishery management organizations such as NAFO, NASCO and FAO.

Brooke Simler Smith, Executive Director

Oregon State University
Department of Zoology
3029 Cordley Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-9173
simlerb@science.oregonstate.edu

As Executive Director, Brooke oversees the development, execution and coordination of COMPASS initiatives, and is responsible for management and fundraising aspects of the partnership. She works with COMPASS' science, policy, communications, and regionally focused teams to lead strategic planning; ensure implementation of efforts and initiatives; and connect and leverage the work of COMPASS staff. She reports to, and works closely with, the COMPASS Principals (leaders from the partner organizations). Brooke's experiences are in ocean sciences and policy, connecting science to policy and the public, state and federal environmental policy, and program management. She has an M.S. from Oregon State University's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences and a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University.

Nancy Baron, Director of Ocean Science Outreach

SeaWeb
c/o National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS)
735 State St., Suite 300
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 892-2515
baron@nceas.ucsb.edu

A zoologist and science writer, Nancy is the Ocean Science Outreach Director for SeaWeb and COMPASS (Communication Partnership for Science and the Sea). She is also the lead communications trainer for the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program. In these capacities, she works with environmental scientists helping them translate their work effectively to journalists, the public and policy makers. Nancy also leads communications training workshops for academic scientists, graduate students and post docs. She has an interdisciplinary Masters degree in Global Marine Studies from the University of British Columbia, a B.Sc. in Zoology and has won numerous science writing awards.

Verna DeLauer, New England Science/Policy Coordinator

University of New Hampshire
Ocean Processes Analysis Laboratory
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 446-3580
vernadelauer@yahoo.com

As COMPASS' New England Science/Policy Coordinator, Verna bridges the communication gap between scientists and resource managers by providing opportunities for them to share their work and learn from one another.

Verna's other ocean-related work includes her past roles as the Outreach Coordinator for New Hampshire Coastal Zone Management and as the Education Chairperson of the Gulf of Maine Council.

She holds an MS in Environmental Education and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of New Hampshire. Her research looks at communication styles and their impact on marine policy decision-making.

Chad English, Director of Science Policy Outreach

SeaWeb
8401 Colesville Road, Ste. 500
Silver Spring MD 20910
(301) 830-7075
cenglish@compassonline.org

Chad joined COMPASS in January 2007 as Director of Science Policy Outreach, where he works to connect ocean conservation science and scientists to federal ocean policy and management discussions in Washington, D.C. He first came to Washington for a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, which he served in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation working on ocean and fisheries issues. Chad comes to COMPASS from the House Committee on Science, where he worked on legislation and oversight related to ocean science and federal ocean governance. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California at San Diego.

Kirsten Grorud-Colvert, Marine Reserve Science Coordinator

Oregon State University
Department of Zoology
3029 Cordley Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-2914
(541) 737-9981
grorudck@science.oregonstate.edu

As Marine Reserve Science Coordinator for COMPASS, Kirsten's role is to synthesize current marine reserve research in order to better understand ecosystem-wide impacts of protection. With a strong background in field research, she assists in bridging the gap between scientific findings, policy implementation, and public understanding of marine reserves as a conservation tool, both in the US and internationally. Kirsten received her B.A. at Occidental College and her Ph.D. at the University of Miami, where she investigated juvenile fish survival and the impact of marine reserves on fish communities.

Emily Knight, California Coordinator

Stanford University
99 Pacific Avenue, Suite 100E
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 648 7988

As California’s Coordinator, Emily works to communicate ocean science to California processes. She facilitates the use of science in important marine issues such as the California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, fisheries management, and the impacts of climate change on ocean and coastal environments. Emily also works to better illuminate the science underpinnings of the land-sea connection by bringing to COMPASS her experience working on California water issues for the Natural Resources Committee in the House of Representatives. Prior to joining COMPASS, Emily served as Science Advisor to the Water and Power Subcommittee where she worked on issues related to endangered species clashing with water projects, including the CA Bay-Delta, Sacramento River salmon, and Klamath River salmon. Emily holds a M.S. in Oceanography from the University of Maine. She was also a Knauss Fellow in Marine Policy for U.S. Congressman Tom Allen of Maine, where she was directly involved with the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management and Conservation Act.

Karen McLeod, Director of Science

Oregon State University
Department of Zoology
3029 Cordley Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-9822
overholk@science.oregonstate.edu

Karen is the Director of Science for COMPASS, based at Oregon State University. With expertise in marine ecology, she holds a PhD from OSU, an MS from the University of South Florida, and a BA from Franklin & Marshall College. For her dissertation, she examined coral-reef fish ecology in the Bahamas, specifically looking at how the spatial distribution of reefs affects predator-prey interactions. As Director of Science, she works to synthesize and communicate science relevant to timely marine conservation topics—primarily ecosystem-based management and marine protected areas—and provides scientific support to all of COMPASS' efforts.

John Meyer, Science/Policy Specialist

Department of Zoology
3029 Cordley Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-9840
john.meyer@science.oregonstate.edu

John's position at COMPASS is two-fold, offering science support for emerging ocean issues, such as ecosystem-based management, and helping facilitate the use of science to develop sound ocean policy in the Pacific Northwest. He holds a MS from the University of New Hampshire and a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, bringing to COMPASS a strong background in marine ecology. Much of his work has focused on invasive species and the ecology of marine protected areas, yet he also has experience developing practical applications of science to ecosystem-based management. John comes to COMPASS after completing a Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship in Washington, D.C. where he worked for a prominent member of Congress helping inform and advance ocean policy on Capitol Hill.

Elizabeth Neeley, Assistant Director of Ocean Science Outreach

Assistant Director of Ocean Science Outreach
SeaWeb
5521 South Ryan Street
Seattle, Washington 98178
(206) 420-1150
eneeley@seaweb.org

As Assistant Director of Ocean Science Outreach for COMPASS, Liz develops and leads communications training programs for scientists, works as a liaison with the Ecosystem Based Management science team, and helps to identify and translate important research results for journalists and the general public. Her primary role is to connect journalists to the experts and background information they need to cover ocean science stories. Liz's background is in animal communication and behavior. She received her B.S. in marine biology from the University of Maryland, College Park and her M.A. in Biology from Boston University, where she studied the evolution and visual ecology of tropical reef fishes.

Lynn Rutter, Program Coordinator

Ocean Process and Analysis Laboratory
Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space
Morse Hall 142
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824
(603) 862-0067
lynn.rutter@unh.edu

Lynn is a program coordinator for the COMPASS program in the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire, and comes to UNH with a Masters in Education and several years of teaching in both public and private elementary schools. Her work extends to environmental and marine education. Lynn supports the work of Dr. Andy Rosenberg, a senior scientist for COMPASS in Fisheries and Ocean Policy, through her coordination, organization and facilitation of grant administration, meeting planning, travel arrangements, and assistance for graduate student and visiting researchers. In the upcoming year Lynn will assist with the development of a science plan related to a new COMPASS direction in Massachusetts. In addition, Lynn is the coordinator for the Regional Association of Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM).

Matthew Wright, Outreach Specialist

SeaWeb
8401 Colesville Road, Ste. 500
Silver Spring MD 20910
(301) 830-7086
mwright@seaweb.org

As Outreach Specialist for COMPASS, Matthew works to raise the profile of ocean science and conservation issues. He helps scientists communicate the meaning of their science to the wider world, and connects these experts with journalists who want to know the latest in marine conservation. In collaboration with his COMPASS teammates, he helps catalyze relationship building between scientists, journalists and policy makers. Matthew holds a Master's degree in Marine Science from Arizona State University, where he studied sea snails that are adapted to survive sudden and extreme shifts in temperature. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Science Communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has held several science writing internships at Stanford University. Prior to joining COMPASS, Matthew worked as a science writer for the Carnegie Institution of Washington in Washington, D.C.