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. 

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. 

Professor Terrie Klinger, Ph.D., a marine ecologist at the University of Washington School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and co-director of the Washington Ocean Acidification Center, was quoted in The New York Times discussing how increasingly acidic ocean waters threaten oyster farming and shellfish hatcheries. Her insights help explain how changing ocean chemistry, particularly during critical larval stages, is shaping the future of aquaculture and highlighting the broader impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. 

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.