Students, faculty, and staff of the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies were recognized for their accomplishments at Honors Day ceremonies held Friday, May 5, at the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. Dr. Kirk Malloy, Vice President of Customer Solutions and Quality for Illumina, Inc., in San Diego, California, was the guest speaker. He earned both his master’s degree and his doctorate in marine biology–biochemistry from the college in 1990 and 1993, respectively.
Now in its 36th year, the College of Marine Studies is a graduate college whose mission is to advance the knowledge, wise use, and conservation of global, estuarine, and coastal ocean environments through a program of excellence in research, teaching, and service. Students specialize in one of four program areas — marine biology–biochemistry, marine policy, oceanography, or physical ocean science and engineering — but gain a working knowledge of each area through interdisciplinary study and hands-on research designed to prepare them for careers in academia, industry, and public service. Dr. Nancy M. Targett, professor of marine biology–biochemistry, is dean of the college, and Dr. David L. Kirchman, professor of marine biology–biochemistry, is associate dean.
The College of Marine Studies also serves as home to the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, a partnership among the federal and state governments, universities, industry, and the public, focused on the wise use, conservation, and management of marine and coastal resources.
Kevin L. Stierhoff, who earned his doctorate in marine biology–biochemistry earlier this year, received the E. Sam Fitz Award, which recognizes the student who has displayed the greatest aptitude for professional development in marine studies.
Frances Severance Academic Council awards for the best thesis or dissertation within a program area were awarded to the following students: Meredith L. Blaydes, thesis in marine policy; Rex R. Malmstrom, dissertation in marine marine biology–biochemistry; Robert E. Trouwborst, dissertation in oceanography; and Chengfeng Wang, dissertation in marine policy.
Marian R. Okie Fellowships, based on academic and research excellence and demonstrated leadership abilities, were awarded to Ryan K. Dale and Zhenlong Tian, master’s students in oceanography, Colleen D. Kernehan and Jennifer D. Robison, master’s students in marine biology–biochemistry; and David A. Martel, doctoral student in marine biology–biochemistry. These fellowships were for the 2005–2006 academic year.
Julie A. Anderson, master’s student in marine biology–biochemistry; Amardeep Dhanju, doctoral student in marine policy; and Susanne M. Moskalski, doctoral student in oceanography, received CMS Program Fellowships, awarded on the basis of academic accomplishments, for the 2005–2006 academic year.
University Dissertation Fellows awards were granted to Andrew D. Krueger and Lisa A. Waidner, doctoral students in marine policy and marine biology–biochemistry, respectively, for the 2006–2007 academic year. In addition, Paul N. Ulrich, doctoral candidate in marine biology–biochemistry received this award for the 2005–2006 academic year. The University Dissertation Fellows Award is granted on the basis of academic achievement, the need to devote full-time effort to dissertation writing, and the likelihood of completing the dissertation within one academic year.
Lide Jiang, doctoral student in oceanography, received a University Graduate Fellows Award on the basis of academic and research excellence and demonstrated leadership abilities. Dominique A. Cowart, who will matriculate in Fall 2006 as a master’s candidate in marine biology–biochemistry, was granted a University Graduate Scholars Award. This award is given on the basis of academic and research accomplishments.
Lindsey C. Williams, master’s student in marine policy, received the Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy Award for the best contribution by a student to the center. Functioning within CMS, the center focuses on legal, political, and economic issues affecting the marine environment.
Publication awards were presented to Coren A. Milbury, doctoral student in marine biology–biochemistry, and Alexander E. Parker and Chengfeng Wang, who received their doctorates in oceanography and marine policy, respectively, earlier this year. Milbury’s paper, “Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequence of the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica,” was co-authored by Patrick Gaffney, professor of marine biology–biochemistry, and published in Marine Biotechnology. Parker’s paper, “Differential Supply of Autochthonous Organic Carbon and Nitrogen to the Microbial Loop in the Delaware Estuary,” was published in Estuaries. Wang’s paper, “Geographical Characterization of Ship Traffic and Emissions,” was co-authored by James Corbett, assistant professor of marine policy, and published in the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board.
Many students were the recipients of awards and fellowships from various local and national organizations. Kevin L. Stierhoff received the Center for the Inland Bays Award. This award is presented to the student who has demonstrated excellence in research that advances the resource management and educational mission of the center. He also received a Delaware Sea Grant student award in recognition of research excellence in the Delaware Sea Grant College Program.
The following students were recipients of the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship in the National Sea Grant Federal Fellows Program: Jason T. Didden, Jonathan C. Lilley, and Thomas B. Street, doctoral candidates in marine policy; and Letise T. Houser, who received her doctorate in marine biology–biochemistry earlier this year. Jill R. Brown, doctoral candidate in marine biology–biochemistry, was awarded a graduate research fellowship from NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System.
Katherine M. Tigani, master’s student in marine biology–biochemistry, received the Elizabeth K. Tunnell Memorial Fellowship from the Beneath the Sea organization. The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists presented Benjamin J. Ciotti, doctoral student in marine biology–biochemistry, with the Raney Fund Award in recognition of his research.
Students also were recognized for exemplary presentations and honors in other areas. Damian C. Brady, doctoral student in marine biology–biochemistry, was the recipient of the Best Student Paper Award at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, and James Mueller, doctoral candidate in physical ocean science and engineering, was the recipient of the Best Student Presentation Award at the annual meeting of the American Meteorological Society. Coren A. Milbury, doctoral candidate in marine biology–biochemistry, was the recipient of an Honorable Mention Award for her poster at the annual meeting of the National Shellfisheries Association. In addition, Shannon B. Lyons, doctoral candidate in marine policy, received a student travel grant to attend the 16th Biennial Conference of the Biology of Marine Mammals.
The Lighted Boat Parade at the annual Boast the Coast Festival in Lewes provides a unique opportunity for the college to showcase its creative skills. On October 1, 2005, the team of Julie A. Anderson, master’s student in marine biology-biochemistry; Jill Brown; Colleen Kernehan; Susanne M. Moskalski; Jennifer D. Robison; and Arthur J. Sundberg, assistant director of Marine Operations, received first prize for boats over 25 feet.
Faculty also were recognized for their teaching and research accomplishments. Lee G. Anderson, professor of marine policy, was elected to serve as president-elect of the North American Association of Fisheries Economists. Melbourne R. Carriker, professor emeritus, edited and published his father’s manuscript, Experience of an Ornithologist Along the Highways and Byways of Bolivia: Collecting Birds in an Isolated, Magnificent Land in the Nineteen Thirties. George W. Luther III, Maxwell P. and Mildred H. Harrington Professor of Marine Studies, has received an honorary professorship in the School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences at Cardiff University in Wales for a period of five years. Vic Klemas, professor emeritus, was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar Program grant to teach ocean remote sensing at Klaipeda University in Lithuania. The Office of Naval Research presented Fabrice Veron, assistant professor of physical ocean science and engineering, with the Young Investigator Award. Science Spectrum magazine named Xiao-Hai Yan, Mary A. S. Lighthipe Professor of Marine Studies, as one of the “top minorities in science.”
The Marine Public Education team consisting of David A. Barczak, art director; Tracey L. Bryant, director; Pamela L. Donnelly, production manager; and Kari K. Gulbrandsen, marine outreach specialist, were the recipients of three awards in the National Federation of Press Women’s 2005 Communication Contest for the At Sea E-Newsletter, the Coast Day 2004 Poster, and News and Feature Releases. They also received nine awards in the Delaware Press Association’s 2006 First State Communications Contest for the following projects: Special Articles, At Sea E-Newsletter, Coast Day 2005 Poster, University of Delaware Sea Grant Reporter 2005 Annual Report, University of Delaware College of Marine Studies Four-Color Brochure, University of Delaware Master of Marine Management Degree Four-Color Brochure, and News or Feature Releases. The team of Barczak, Bryant, and Donnelly also received two awards for “Best Web-Site Outreach Effort” at the 2005 National Sea Grant Week for the Extreme 2004: Exploring the Deep Frontier and the Horseshoe Crab Web sites.