We’re proud to highlight alum Sara Adams (SMEA, UW) and her research on motivating container ship participation in the Quiet Sound Slowdown, a voluntary initiative to reduce underwater noise for endangered Southern Resident killer whales.
Sara’s qualitative case study examined how program design, communication, operational logistics, and values influence shipping companies’ decisions to slow down in Puget Sound. Through interviews with industry representatives and analysis of sustainability reports, her work offers key insights for improving conservation engagement with the maritime industry. 

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 2004 graduate of SMEA, Kevin Grant currently serves as Superintendent of NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. In this role, he leads the day-to-day operations and long-term strategic direction of one of the nation’s most ecologically significant marine protected areas.
Kevin oversees strategic planning, resource management, and the sanctuary’s administrative and financial operations. He works closely with a wide range of partners and co-managers, including four Coastal Treaty Tribes, to ensure collaborative stewardship of the region’s marine ecosystems. 

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 ) 
 
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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. 

A recent paper published in the journal FACETS features seven SMEA authors, titled Excavating the regulatory process and risks posed by Alaska hardrock mine expansions.
Open-access available here!
This paper represents the culmination of a SMEA capstone project! We hope it will be of interest to a broad audience, including NEPA practitioners, applied scientists, and citizens that current or future mining operations may impact. 

If you had to choose the biggest buzzword for people working in coastal management and climate-related fields over the past ten years, it might very well be ‘resilience.’ In recent years, the Biden-Harris administration has invested more than $50 billion in climate resilience—and nearly half is explicitly targeted toward coastal ecosystems and infrastructure. But what do we really mean when we talk about coastal and climate resilience? And what does it look like to work in this field?

Several SMEA graduates go on to complete year-long fellowships through programs like Washington Sea Grant and NOAA. Below, a few alumni share their fellowship experiences and how SMEA prepared them for these roles.

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 Comtois-Dion up to date with your accomplishments and changes in location or employment. (tlcdion@uw.edu)