Dr. Jim Ammerman, director since 2008, steps down to lead post-Hurricane Sandy effort

Stony Brook, NY, May 16, 2013 - The New York Sea Grant (NYSG) Board of Governors and Stony Brook University Provost Dennis Assanis have approved the appointment of William Wise, Associate Director of the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) as the Interim Director of the NYSG program. 

Dr. Jim Ammerman, NYSG Director since 2008, stepped down effective May 15, 2013. Ammerman will lead an effort to bring a new NOAA program related to coastal extreme weather events and climate change to Stony Brook University in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
 
Says Ammerman, “Over the last four years New York Sea Grant has continued its research and outreach success despite serious funding challenges.  It has also increased its regional research as well as expanded its partnerships. I will miss working with the dedicated staff of New York Sea Grant as well as its advisors and stakeholders.”  

Alexander N. Cartwright, Chair of NYSG Board of Governors said, “On behalf of the Board of Governors, I want to acknowledge Jim Ammerman’s many years of service to the New York Sea Grant program.  Jim will put his scientific expertise and insight to very good use in post-Hurricane Sandy research related to extreme weather events and their effects on coastal communities – research that is vital to New York State, and to the nation at large.”

“In addition, William Wise’s familiarity with NYSG, having previously served as Associate Director, will serve NYSG well during this period of transition,” said Cartwright.

In an additional role at SBU, Wise has served as Director of SoMAS's Living Marine Resources Institute, and is the principal liaison between SoMAS research and educational programs and the natural resource management agencies at federal, state and municipal governmental levels. His expertise in fisheries biology and management, and in marine ecology, education, law and policy will greatly benefit the New York Sea Grant Program.

 "I am looking forward to this temporary return to the New York Sea Grant Program and working with its excellent staff to keep the program moving forward in 'Bringing Science to the Shore," said Wise.

Said Dr. Minghua Zhang, Dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences said, “I look forward to working with the Board of Governors and Bill Wise to ensure a smooth and effective transition of the NYSG leadership. We wish the best for New York Sea Grant and for Bill Wise in his new position.”

Interim Director Wise will occupy 121 Discovery Hall on the Stony Brook campus and can be reached at 631-632-6905; william.wise@stonybrook.edu.

More Info:

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG also offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/coastlines for NY Coastlines, its flagship publication, and Currents, its e-newsletter supplement, each distributed 3-4 times a year.