Directory
Leadership
Within the program, FSG is managed at the programmatic level by a Director (Dr. Larkin) and two Associate Directors – one for Research (Dr. Sidman) and one for Extension and Education (Dr. McGuire). These three core positions are supported by an Assistant Director of Fiscal Operations (Christina Huntley) and a Creative/Art Director (Donielle Nardi). An organizational chart shows the current management team and staff, and related advisory groups, supporting faculty, and leveraged coordinators.
Administration
The administrative offices of Florida Sea Grant are housed at the University of Florida. Here, the leadership and supporting teams work together to manage and run the state–wide program. The primary office is located on the main campus in Gainesville, while the Associate Director for Extension and Education is located at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biosciences on the Atlantic Coast.
Extension Agents
UF/IFAS Extension Agents design and deliver extension and education programming to target audiences, mostly within defined geographic areas.
Extension Specialists & Scientists
UF/IFAS Extension Specialists provide subject matter expertise to extension agents and target audiences across the state and the nation.
Coordinators & Liaisons
Leveraged outreach and education coordinators and liaisons support initiatives in conjunction with our state agency and federal partners. Learn more about our leveraged positions and partnerships.
Program Advisors
The program is provided with ongoing guidance by a long-standing Advisory Council, a newly established Director’s Operating Advisory Panel (DOAP), and a State Agency Advisory Group. The Advisory Council meets regularly (2-3 times per year, at least once in person) and actively participates in various aspects of program management and vision. The DOAP is called upon when needed to provide specific advice and guidance to the director. Members have experience with Sea Grant programs and activities nationwide, their most recent or current Sea Grant affiliations are listed below. The “Agency Group” is comprised of managers of key programs that comprise our state government and regulatory bodies. The Agency Group is called upon when needed to provide specific advice and guidance, and to discuss future needs and gaps for managing resources within the state.
Advisory Council
FY24-28 TBD.
Bob
Aylesworth
Aylesworth’s Fish and Bait, Inc.
Jim
Cantonis
Acme Sponge & Chamois Co., Inc.
Billy
Causey
National Marine Sanctuary Program
Kevin
Claridge
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
Spencer
Crowley
Akerman Law
Kathleen
Elliott
Mahogany Youth Corporation
Victor
Garrido
Quirch Foods, LLC
Laura
Geselbracht
The Nature Conservancy
Greg
Jacoski
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
Tim
Jordan
Saucy Lady Oyster Company
Bill
Kelly
Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Ernesto
Lasso de la Vega
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
Gil
McRae
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Richard
Pruitt
Carnival Cruise Line
Jerry
Sansom
Organized Fishermen of Florida
Shawn
Stephenson
Southern Cross Sea Farms
Steve
Stock
Victory Consulting, Inc.
Director's Operating Advisory Panel
Charles “Chuck”
Adams
Florida Sea Grant
Anders
Andren
Wisconsin Sea Grant
James “Jim”
Cato
Florida Sea Grant
James “Jim”
Murray
National Sea Grant Review Panel
John
Woeste
National Sea Grant Review Panel
Dorothy
Zimmerman
Florida Sea Grant
Don
Pybas
Florida Sea Grant
Key Agency Contacts
Whitney
Gray
|
Administrator
FDEP Florida Resilient Coastlines Program
Brian
LaMarre
|
Meteorologist-in-Charge
NOAA NWS, Tampa Bay Area WFO,
Brenda
Leonard
|
Administrator
FDEP Clean Boating Programs
Jessica
McCawley
|
Director
FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management
Gil
McRae
|
Director
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Clay
Porch
|
Director
NOAA Fisheries/Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Portia
Sapp
|
Aquaculture Director
FDACS Division of Aquaculture
Mike
Shirley
|
Administrator
FDEP Florida Coastal Management Program
Andy
Strelcheck
|
Regional Administrator
NOAA Fisheries/Southeast Regional Office
Joanna
Walczak
|
Administrator
FDEP Coral Protection and Restoration
Jessica
White
|
Deputy Director/Facility Manager
NOAA NOS/Disaster Preparedness Program
Dana
Wusinich-Mendez
|
Atlantic and Caribbean Team Lead
NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program
UF Research Affiliates
The Florida Sea Grant program is also a “center” at UF. To fulfill the mission of a campus center, the program maintains a group of research affiliates at UF with which it can foster communications, establish research groups (i.e., Work Action Groups or WAGs) and work interactively with UF/IFAS Extension Agents to translate research outcomes. This group of 30+ faculty is supplemented by the PIs of over 50 additional research-based projects located around the state that are tracked by the Associate Director of Research. As time and resources allow, the program brings together all researchers, students and agents to share what has been learned and how to effectively communicate to stakeholders in Florida. FY18-23.
