Current School of Marine and Environmental Affairs first-year student, Adrien Glenn Owens was recently published in the February 2022 edition of Marine Policy. She was a co-author on the paper “Lessons learned from a natural resource disaster: The long-term impacts of the Long Island Sound lobster die-off on individuals and communities”. A result of the research she conducted while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology at the University of New Haven. 

The Winter Quarter SMEA Speakers Series will feature three speakers from Washington state, and will be made available virtually again due to the on-going pandemic. All presentations as part of the series will be offered on Thursdays 12:00-1:00pm PST via Zoom.
Dr. Marco Hatch (he/him) is an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Western Washington University and is a member of the Samish Indian Nation. 

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs will hold its next faculty meeting on Thursday, January 6, 12:00pm. Please see below for details on how to join;
Zoom Online Meeting
https://washington.zoom.us/j/94705406674
Phone In
1-206-337-9723
Meeting ID: 947 0540 6674
A copy of the meeting agenda can be found here. Please contact Jackie Chapman (jachap@uw.edu) with any questions or for more information. 

SMEA alumna Megan McKeown ’20 shared her experience and a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative process for the Knauss Fellow Blog hosted by the NOAA Sea Grant website. McKeown has been serving as a marine policy fellow in DC working for the House Science Committee.
While studying at SMEA, McKeown authored the thesis “Carbon Trading & Environmental Equity: Evidence from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (2000 – 2019)”. 

Describe your experience in applying to and selecting a graduate program.
I first applied to SEFS and SAFS without success. Although, I will say I didn’t apply myself very well and I’m not sure I was mentally ready to go back to school. I graduated undergrad in 2015 and took a few years off working before diving back into the academic world. 

Dear Friends,
We have started the 2021/22 academic year strong, back on campus, and in-person. Our first-year cohort is larger and more diverse than before. We are offering exciting new courses and capstone projects. SMEA students, faculty, and postdoctoral researchers started many new research projects. Our graduates continue to have major impact in marine and environmental affairs. I hope this newsletter will provide you with a glimpse of our work as we start this academic year. 

If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift for an inquisitive kid in your life, you might consider a copy of the recently published  “The Rockfish Kids Book”, a beautifully illustrated book designed to connect children of all ages in the Puget Sound with an important marine species. The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs has had a long history in helping to shape the scientific knowledge about rockfish, and has produced many alumni who have been critical to their recovery in the Puget Sound. 

Every year, the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) awards financial support to students with varying interests and research focuses. These awards are made possible by our generous donors, which include alumni, faculty, staff, industry and community members. Many of these funds are established in memory of beloved members of the SMEA community. Awardees are identified by SMEA leadership and faculty based on fund availability, student focus, and financial need. 

Career News:
New graduate Katy Bland ’21 recently accepted a position with NERACOOS and New Hampshire Sea Grant as the Engagement and Research Associate.
The Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has a new Corporate Giving and Events Manager, as James Roubal ’18  assumed the role in November 2021. James previous worked as a Program Coordinator with Washington CoastSavers and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. 

School of Marine and Environmental Affairs alumna Nicole Kanayurak ’16 was among the Fulbright Scholars Program alumni to lend her voice and experience to the 75th anniversary celebration of the illustrious program.
According to the release from the Fulbright Program, “Nicole is an Inupiaq from Utqiaġvik, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States, who works at the municipal level to prioritize indigenous and traditional practices and community involvement in wildlife management.