NOAA NAMES KNAUSS FELLOWS

The 33 members of the Class of 2003 of the Dean John A. Knauss fellowships are spending a year in Washington, D.C. gaining experience in national policy decisions affecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. A list with hometowns, universities, and assignments follows.

“You are the best and the brightest in your universities and you are the future of marine and coastal policy in our government,” said Retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “I applaud the Knauss program because it is a wonderful entree for highly motivated people like you to get into the system and make a difference.”

Fellowship funding comes from the host agency and the National Sea Grant College Program, which is part of NOAA through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Research).

"The 2003 Knauss fellows join a long list of illustrious alumni in a distinguished program. This may be the most meaningful year in their educational careers," said
Ronald C. Baird, director, National Sea Grant College Program.

During their stay in Washington, Knauss fellows inform decision makers about timely coastal issues, network with science-oriented federal agencies, prepare and present important coastal information to legislators, and interact with more than 470 alumni and current fellows from various disciplines and backgrounds.

Knauss was one of Sea Grant’s founders, a NOAA administrator, and Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Including the Class of 2003, 529 individuals have participated in the Fellowship program since it began in 1979.

Sea Grant is a network of colleges and universities that provides information vital to the wise use of our ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources through research, education, and outreach.

The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through research to better understand weather and climate-related events and to manage wisely our nation's coastal and marine resources.

The Knauss Class of 2003

Listed by name, hometown, university, and Knauss assignment.

Rachel Adams, Grand Rapids, Mich., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Environmental Protection Agency Marine Pollution Control Branch.

Jeffrey Augello, Allentown, Pa., University of Vermont, NOAA Office of the General Counsel.

Ramesh Baskaran, University of Rhode Island, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Science and Technology.

Stefano Belfiore, University of Delaware, NOAA National Ocean Service International Programs Office.

Carli Bertrand, Wellfleet, Maine, University of Rhode Island, Republican Staff of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Carl Childs, Fairway, Kan. & Olympia, Wash., Florida State University, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Office of Scientific Support.

Bridget Ferriss, Toronto, Ont., University of Washington, Democratic Staff of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Neven Fuckar, Zagreb, Croatia, Texas A&M University, NOAA National Environmental Satellite and Data Service Oceanic Research and Applications Division.

Rachel Gallant, Waldoboro, Maine, University of New Hampshire, Office of Rep. Thomas Allen (D-ME).

Erica Goldman, Seattle, Wash., University of Washington, House Committee on Resources, Democratic Staff.

Cidney Howard, Vancouver, Wash., Oregon State University, State Department Office of Marine Conservation.

Jennifer Jefferies, Parkesburg, Penn., College of Charleston, NOAA National Marine Fisheries service, Office of Protected Resources.

Olaf Jensen, Callicoon, N.Y., University of Maryland, NOAA National Ocean service Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment.

Julien Lartigue, Mobile, Ala., University of South Alabama, Office of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Amanda Leland, Walpole, Maine, University of Maine, Office of Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA).

Jennifer Linn, Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Environmental Protection Agency Coastal Management Branch.

Miguel Ascorbe Lugo, University of Puerto Rico, NOAA National Ocean Service, Coral reef Conservation Program.

Elizabeth Lumsden, Germantown, Tenn., Texas A&M University, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Habitat Conservation.

Carrie McDougall, Santa Barbara, Calif. University of California, Santa Barbara, NOAA Office of the Under Secretary.

Lisa Manning, Wilbraham, Maine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Protected Resources.

Felix Martinez, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ohio State University, NOAA National Ocean Service Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research.

Sunshine Menezes, Reed City, Mich., University of Rhode Island, Office of Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ).

Larissa Nojek, Springfield, Va., Duke University, NOAA Office of Legislative Affairs.

Barbara Peichel, Fairfax, Minn., University of Minnesota, Office of Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI).

Vicki Lee Pilon, Eliot Lake, Ont., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Environmental Protection Agency Wetlands Division.

Taconya Piper, University of Maryland, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration.

Laura Rear, East Brunswick, N.J., University of Connecticut, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration.

Malia Ana Rivera, University of Hawaii, Office of Del. Eni Faleomavaega (D-Am. Samoa).

Laura Snow, South Kingston, R.I., Oregon State University, Environmental Protection Agency Marine Pollution Control Branch.

Melanie Spring Harris, Middletown, N.J., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Habitat Conservation.

James Sullivan, Watkinsville, Ga., University of Georgia, NOAA National Ocean Service National Marine Sanctuary Program.

Kevin Wood, University of Washington, NOAA Arctic Research Office.

Melissa Woods, University of South Alabama, Office of Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI).

On the Net:

NOAA at: http://www.noaa.gov

Sea Grant: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org

Photos of the Knauss fellows: http://www.nsgo.seagrant.org/Knauss/2003/2003VADM_Pictures/index.htm