In Washington state, thousands of barrier culverts block salmon from accessing critical upstream habitat, violating tribal treaty rights and hindering efforts to rebuild populations of this iconic species. These barrier culverts are owned by a large number of entities including federal agencies, the state, counties, cities, and private landowners.
Each of these entities is independently ramping up efforts to correct barrier culverts and, in the next decade, billions of dollars will be devoted to fish passage restoration projects in the state. 

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. 

When the UW launched Husky Giving Day, a 24-hour period for Huskies everywhere to reconnect with the institution, SMEA agreed to participate primarily as a chance to touch base with recent alumni. With support from the College of the Environment’s Advancement team, SMEA Director Nives Dolšak penned an email to almost 600 recent MMA alumni.
The outreach featured an invitation to participate in Husky Giving Day, and an opportunity to reconnect with SMEA by offering to mentor or meet with prospective and current students, work with faculty as a guest presenter, offer presentations, or join in on SMEA-hosted events. 

Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, we congratulated our 2021 SMEA graduates. As summer arrives to Pacific Northwest with some record-breaking temperatures, SMEA is busy with projects. Rising second-year students and faculty have turned to their research. Some faculty are planning their studies in California and Alaska, others in Mexico, Japan, Brazil, Europe, and Bangladesh. And, many are staying in the Pacific Northwest, studying our natural resources, ecosystems, and communities. 

Though the 2020-2021 academic year was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, SMEA students were undeterred. This academic year, 26 students will have received their Master’s of Marine Affairs. The Class of 2021 was in a unique position to have experienced a portion of their graduate studies in-person, while turning to virtual learning in the Spring 2020 quarter.
Despite the distance imposed on SMEA students, this cohort was able to make significant contributions and maintain the academic rigor expected for the degree, all while getting creative in forging social connections. 

Despite the COVID-19 disruption, 10 SMEA students took part in presenting their Capstone Project to the broader SMEA community and their clients via Zoom in mid-March, while 14 students delivered Thesis Presentations in early May or early June. Students were able to share their findings and learning with family, alumni, faculty, staff, and fellow students, gather feedback from those listening in, and had the opportunity to incorporate these takeaways in their final edition. 

Dr. P. Joshua Griffin joined SMEA as an Assistant Professor last fall, and also holds a position in the American Indian Studies department. Dr. Griffin, or Griff as he’s known around campus, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Religious Studies from Dartmouth College. He then went onto earn a Master’s of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, and followed that with a Master’s in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Washington.