Nives Dolsak

Director

Dr. Nives Dolsak is SMEA’s Director, as well as a Stan and Alta Barer Professor in Sustainability Science. She joined the SMEA faculty in 2010 and became the Director in September 2019. Dr. Dolsak’s office is in the SMEA main office, room 111 of the Marine Studies Building. She can be reached at (206) 685-2144 or nives@uw.edu. More information about Dr. Dolsak and her research is available via her faculty profile.

Hailie Borges

Assistant to the Director

Hailie Borges joined SMEA in the summer of 2025 as Assistant to the Director. Her responsibilities include executive-level support to the Director, project and event management, internal and external communications, and oversight of key human resources processes. She also coordinates facilities operations, manages school-level evaluations, and supports donor engagement and advancement efforts. Hailie holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her office is in the SMEA main office, room 113, of the Marine Studies Building. You can reach her at (206) 543-4448 or hrb25@uw.edu.

Denise Keith

Administrator

Denise began at the UW in 2022 and joined SMEA in 2024. She has a dual appointment in SMEA and the COE Dean’s office, and her responsibilities include managing a diverse portfolio of funds, operational policies and procedures, strategic planning, and human resources.  Denise’s office is in the SMEA main office, room 133 of the Marine Studies Building. You can reach her at (206) 543-6803 or dkeith00@uw.edu.

Tiffany Comtois-Dion

Senior Academic and Student Services Specialist

Tiffany began at the UW in 2011 and has been with SMEA since 2013. Her responsibilities include advising prospective students starting with the application process on through new student orientation, as well as advising current students on the program of studies, course registration, and graduation requirements. Tiffany’s office is in the SMEA main office, room 107 of the Marine Studies Building. You can reach her at (206) 543-0106 or tlcdion@uw.edu.

Suanty Kaghan

Administrative Specialist

Suanty has been with the School since 1989. Her primary responsibilities at SMEA involve fiscal and administrative management and include budgeting, purchasing, travel, proposal submission, payroll,  and work-study supervision. Suanty’s office is in the SMEA main office, room 105 of the Marine Studies Building. She can be reached at (206) 543-4392 or skaghan@uw.edu.