Maine Sea Grant Director to Lead National Organization
Contact: Catherine Schmitt, 581-1434
ORONO, Maine — Paul Anderson, director of the Maine Sea Grant College Program, has been elected president of the Sea Grant Association, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the Sea Grant program concept.
Through membership in the Sea Grant Association, the University of Maine and other academic institutions that participate in the National Sea Grant College Program have a means to coordinate their activities and set Sea Grant program priorities at both the regional and national level. “Paul’s knowledge of the issues and his ability to forge consensus among diverse partners and stakeholders speaks volumes for his future success as president. I’m certain he’ll be an exceptional leader for the Sea Grant Association and look forward to working with him over the next two years,” said outgoing president Jonathan Kramer, director of Maryland Sea Grant.
As chief executive and chief operating officer of the Sea Grant Association, Anderson will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s government relations activities, as well as providing the association’s unified voice on issues of importance to the oceans and coasts.
“There is broad, national enthusiasm for the unique Sea Grant structure that links university research with education and outreach, and as president of the SGA, I hope to continue to share our successes and to promote Sea Grant as a major contributor in addressing America’s coastal challenges,” Anderson said. Before joining Sea Grant in 1999, Anderson directed the Maine Department of Marine Resources Public Health Division, where he focused on environmental monitoring for seafood safety. Anderson also leads the Marine Extension Team, a group of 10 Sea Grant and Cooperative Extension staff members located along the Maine coast from Eastport to Wells. The Marine Extension Team helps coastal communities gain the capacity to make informed decisions on the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources.
Sea Grant is a national network of 30 programs that receive funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Maine Sea Grant College Program is based at the University of Maine and has a mission of supporting marine science education, research, and outreach.
For more information, visit http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/index.htm.