Reconnect with the School of Marine & Environmental Affairs (SMEA) at our 2025 reception! This annual gathering brings together alumni, students, faculty, and friends to celebrate our community, share updates, and strengthen connections in marine and environmental affairs.
Date: November 22, 2025Time: 5:00–7:00 PMLocation: Silver Cloud Hotel (SODO, Stadium Location)
21+ Event
RSVP here: UW SMEA COMMUNITY RECEPTION AT PACIFIC MARINE EXPO 2025 

SMEA is proud to share a new paper published in Fisheries Research titled Assessing the social-ecological dimensions of Dungeness crab fishery closures in Southeast Alaska from analysis of public records.
The study was led by SMEA alum Rondi Nordal (Class of 2024), with faculty coauthors Anne Beaudreau and Erendira Aceves-Bueno, in collaboration with NOAA colleagues.
Drawing on more than a decade of public meeting records, the research takes a deep look at how decisions about fishery closures are shaped not only by ecological goals, but also by social, cultural, and subsistence needs. 

Heading to the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle this November? Join us for the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) Community Reception at the Silver Cloud Hotel (Seattle Stadium location). Enjoy small bites and beverages, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and unwind after the expo. Save-the-date. More details coming soon!

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Location: Silver Cloud Hotel, (Seattle’s SODO District) 9th Floor, Avene One Ballroom
Time: 5:00 PM

Adults 21+ only—thank you for understanding! 

A new study co-authored by SMEA Director Dr. Nives Dolšak has been published in PLOS ONE, examining how the nationality of waste-to-energy (WtE) facility operators influences public support for these projects.
The research focuses on Thailand, where WtE projects are gaining attention as a potential solution to both energy and waste management challenges. Through a large-scale survey experiment, the study explores how public perceptions, environmental values, and international partnerships intersect when it comes to sustainable infrastructure. 

Dear SMEA friends!
Greetings from SMEA. We had an exciting spring with presentations of outstanding capstone projects and thesis research, from the sea to the land, from invertebrates, bull kelp, Dungeness crab, fisheries management, aquaculture, container ships, ocean grabbing, to food forest, and salmon habitat restoration. You can watch recordings of these presentations here. We celebrated our graduates’ accomplishments. Including outstanding research and the impact our students make on our communities. 

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs celebrated the Class of 2025, honoring 21 students who earned their Master of Marine Affairs (MMA) degrees. These graduates now join an esteemed community of nearly 1,000 alumni and world-class policymakers dedicated to building a resilient future in marine and environmental affairs.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from SMEA Director Dr. 

The 2025 capstone and thesis projects at SMEA showcased a diverse range of interdisciplinary research addressing important environmental and social issues. Capstone teams collaborated with external partners to tackle real-world challenges, from enhancing environmental justice in flood management to exploring community benefit agreements for equitable renewable energy expansion. Our thesis-track students engaged in rigorous, independent research with topics ranging from marine science to policy analysis. 

Dan Tonnes, like many SMEA graduates with careers in the federal government or with federal funding, informed us he was leaving NOAA and federal employment after 25 years in order to take advantage of the buyout program. His premature exit from federal service has many ramifications for him, for NOAA with the loss of experience and talent, and for SMEA, as explained below. 

What is this column?
We are experimenting with ways to engage with our alumni and to inspire current students with their accomplishments. This section is a random walk through what we’ve recently observed about or heard from alumni. Please keep Graduate Program Advisor, Tiffany L. Dion, up to date with your accomplishments and changes in location or employment. ((tlcdion@uw.edu ) 
 
Dr. 

From monitoring humpbacks in Alaskan waters to shaping electric vehicle policy in Washington State, SMEA Alumni are actively leading and supporting cutting-edge research across environmental sectors. While their roles vary, they all share a commitment to interdisciplinary work and a passion for applied, real-world impact.
 
Ryan Swanson (SMEA class of 2019) is an environmental scientist at Environmental Science Associates (ESA) and conducts research for offshore infrastructure projects like tidal energy installations, fiber optic cables, and underwater battery systems.