UGA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Coastal Ecology Research Technician
Based at our Brunswick office with the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Coastal Ecology Lab, Crossman joined the lab as a technician in May 2024 and came on as a staff member in November 2024. She works on a variety of different research and outreach projects surrounding Georgia's native species including diamondback terrapins, gopher tortoises, American alligators, snakes, and invertebrates.
Crossman is originally from Atlanta and moved to southeast Georgia in 2019 where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Coastal Ecology and a minor in Environmental Science at the College of Coastal Georgia. She is passionate about herpetology, entomology, wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, and animal behavior and loves to spend her spare time exploring coastal Georgia ecosystems and caring for her pets.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Marine Education
joined Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 1998 as a marine educator. Today she serves as Associate Director of Marine Education, overseeing education programs, people, and facilities at the Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island. As one of its marine education faculty, Lindsay teaches field, lab, and boat-based programs for students of all ages and coordinates the unit's Summer Marine Science Camps. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Georgia (Zoology, 1987) and a Master of Science from Clemson University (Zoology, 1990). Her hometown is Athens, Georgia.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Marine Education Volunteer
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- Assistant Administrative Financial Director
Klostermann has been with UGA since 2007 in administrative and financial roles within the University of Georgia Foundation and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. She came to Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 2020. She supports the Athens Administrative Office with OneSource financial transaction processing and UGA Foundation donor relations coordination. Key duties include weekly UGA Foundation gift acknowledgment, monthly P-card reconciliation, daily OneSource payment requests, and managing UGAMart orders, receipts and invoices. Klostermann wears many hats, but enjoys the variety of duties and learning new things every day. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and kayaking with her husband, Bob.
Job Titles:
- Evaluation Coordinator
- Reporting and Evaluation Coordinator
As Reporting and Evaluation Coordinator, Dula helps to streamline data collection for reporting requirements and provide technical assistance for creating evaluation plans. He received his bachelor's in biology from Gettysburg College and his masters from the University of Georgia at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. His previous work includes marine science education, assisting bat research in Panama, and studying Gulf Sturgeon for his thesis.
Originally from New Jersey, he now calls Athens home. In his free time, he and his partner enjoy biking, going to see live music and fostering cats and dogs.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Extension
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
McGill serves as the program specialist at the unit's Brunswick office. She joined Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 2020 after working for the City of Brunswick. She has a wide range of experience in office management and program assistance including overseeing a municipal records management program and supporting property tax billing and collection procedures.
McGill spent much of her childhood growing up on Sapelo Island. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Valdosta State University. She enjoys living on the coast and taking time to reflect on the beautiful views and the rich history found there. In her spare time, McGill enjoys reading and beachgoing with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Coordinator
Kenworthy oversees Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant's communications program. She works to increase the visibility of the unit by coordinating internal and external communications needs, including working with staff to develop print and digital publications, managing the unit's website and e-newsletter, and writing stories about research, education and extension projects. Prior to joining Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 2016, she worked as a communications specialist in North Carolina covering marine science and environmental issues at UNC's Institute of Marine Sciences and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve.
She has her bachelor's degree in English from North Carolina State University and a master's in professional communication and leadership from Georgia Southern University.
Job Titles:
- Seafood Specialist
- Specialist
Erin Arneson serves as the unit's Seafood Specialist. She works with the local seafood industry to provide technical support and education. With technical knowledge of biology, ecology and aquaculture, she acts as a subject resource and connects people based on their needs and goals. Arneson is also certified to teach the Seafood HACCP Training. In her previous position, she coordinated field work at the Shellfish Research Lab on Skidaway Island, setting up research sites and managing data collection in order to research topics like oyster reef restoration and aquaculture.
Prior to joining Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 2022, she completed her master's research on ocean acidification and the resilience of the coral Oculina arbuscula at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Arneson received a bachelor's degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in Biology from Georgia Southern University. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, gardening and kayaking.
Job Titles:
- Coastal Economic Specialist
Frimpong is responsible for providing statewide leadership and coordination for developing, maintaining, and evaluating a coastal economics extension and applied coastal economic research program that serves Georgia. He provides technical assistance and outreach on marine economic-related topics to industry constituents, agency officials, community leaders, legislators, and other relevant stakeholder groups through consultations, workshops and seminars. He also develops educational materials to support the communication and dissemination of coastal economic research.
Job Titles:
- Hatchery Technician
- Technician for the Shellfish Research Lab
Hillary Sklar serves as the hatchery technician for the Shellfish Research Lab on Skidaway Island. She joined the unit in 2022. Sklar's duties include culturing diverse species of algae to use as food for bivalves and caring for and ensuring the health of shellfish at varying stages of life. Additionally, she has been working with local partners and restaurants to assist in recycling oyster shells that will later be used for restoration projects.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Chatham County Manager
Jackie Wilson works alongside the Chef Manager to provide meals to students and university groups participating in education programs at the Marine Education Center and Aquarium. She has over 20 years of experience in academic food service settings and brings a wealth of knowledge, great recipes and big smile to the unit.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Brown serves as the stormwater specialist. She is a water resource engineer and career extension professional, having worked at several land and sea grant universities on the east coast, wading through streams and marshes (and local policy!) helping communities to address the challenges of stormwater runoff, flooding and nonpoint source pollution. Brown joined Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 2016 to develop the unit's stormwater program, focusing on applications of green stormwater infrastructure. She loves stormwater demonstration projects, particularly those that allow her to be outside in the company of large yellow construction equipment or get her boots dirty.
There are a handful of places Brown calls home, but she currently claims Saint Simons Island, Georgia. She has a bachelor's and master's degree from North Carolina State University in biological and agricultural engineering and is a licensed engineer. If the location regularly floods or if it has good food, Jess and her husband (also, a water resources engineer) won't be too far away - unless they are jumping in puddles with their kids.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Marine Resource Specialist
Pelli was born and raised in Savannah and lives on Sandbridge Creek with his wife, Cherie, and daughter, Madeleine, and their six boats.
Job Titles:
- Coastal Ecology Research Technician
Billings serves as a Coastal Ecology Research Technician with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant's Coastal Ecology Lab. He joined the lab as an intern in 2021 and is now a staff member working primarily on research surrounding translocated gopher tortoises and native plant communities within their habitats.
Billings is originally from southern California, but has spent most of his life in southeast Georgia where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in coastal ecology. In his spare time, he loves to explore Georgia's amazing ecosystems and practice some roadside botany.
Job Titles:
- Hatchery Manager
- Manager at Marine Extension
Manley is the hatchery manager at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant's Shellfish Research Laboratory on Skidaway Island. He joined the lab after running his own business, Spatking Oysters L.L.C., which was the first company to intensively farm oysters in the state. Manley has worked in commercial shellfish and finfish aquaculture and research for almost 20 years in the private and public sector in both the U.S. and Canada.
Manley was born and raised in metro Detroit, Michigan but has called Savannah home for over a decade. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Central Michigan University, his master's in marine science from Savannah State University, and he is completing his doctorate in marine sciences at UGA. Justin takes pride in his "off" sense of humor that nobody gets. In his spare time, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, weightlifting, running or gardening. When he's not in Savannah, he is kayaking amongst the mangroves in the Florida Keys or the Caribbean Sea.
Job Titles:
- Marine Educator and Volunteer Coordinator
teaches K-12 field trip programs at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant's Marine Education Center and Aquarium and manages the unit's volunteer program. She joined the team in 2018 after working as the education program manager at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. She has worked as a wildlife biologist and environmental educator in diverse settings, living in Oregon, Costa Rica and Spain before settling on the Georgia coast. Higgins conducts a variety of teacher workshops, serves as a board member on the Georgia Association of Marine Education and works to develop programming that promotes good stewardship practices as they relate to avian conservation.
Higgins grew up in Ohio, playing in the woods surrounding her house. She is an avid birder, reader and loves to garden and tend her small flock of chickens. She is the mother of two bright daughters who also love the outdoors. She earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Portland State University, Oregon and has a Master of Arts in Zoology from Miami University of Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Georgia Sea Grant Legal Program Director
- Sea Grant Legal Program Director
Katie Hill, Public Service and Outreach Faculty at the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government, became Director of the Georgia Sea Grant Legal Program in August of 2024. In this role, she helps Georgia Sea Grant fulfill its mission to improve the environmental, social, and economic health of the Georgia coast by providing analysis on important policy and legal topics. Through the Sea Grant Legal Program, Hill supervises the research and work product development of Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows - second- and third-year law students at the UGA School of Law who work for the Georgia Sea Grant Legal Program during the academic year or summer.
Leading up to her appointment as Georgia Sea Grant Legal Program Director, Hill worked on coastal law and policy topics at the Institute of Government including coastal blue carbon law and policy, coastal stormwater management, derelict trap policies, and oyster aquaculture policy. Prior to joining the Institute of Government, Hill conducted environmental law and policy analysis at the UGA River Basin Center. She received her B.S. from the University of Florida in 2002 and her J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2008. Originally from Key West, Florida, Hill enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Water Quality Program Coordinator
- Water Resources Specialist
Katy Smith joined Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 1999. She manages the water quality program and provides classroom and field-based education and outreach related to water quality, marine debris and coastal ecology. She works with diverse partners to develop outreach campaigns and action plans to address water issues and environmental challenges.
She received her bachelor's in ecology from UGA in 1997. She had the opportunity to work as an intern for Merryl Alber in the Department of Marine Sciences during her senior year. During this time, she learned to plan and carry out coastal water quality assessments aboard the R/V Blue Fin.
Smith grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently lives on St. Simons Island with her husband and their two sons. Her favorite activities are going to the beach with her family, traveling, and cooking out with friends.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Coastal Ecology Specialist - Coastal Ecology Lab
Andrews has a faculty appointment as the Coastal Ecology Specialist and is located at the Brunswick station where she oversees the Coastal Ecology Lab. She officially joined Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in 2020 but has been working on the Georgia coast since 2011. Her research and conservation efforts involve conducting field research, primarily on reptiles and habitats altered by development, pollution and climate change. She facilitates science-based conflict resolution with industry and development by integrating results and recommendations into infrastructure designs, development plans and informing the community of environmental health impacts.
Andrews grew up in rural South Carolina and watched development rapidly displace natural landscapes. She dedicated her career to finding better solutions that accommodate both environmental and economic health. She acquired three degrees from UGA: a bachelor's degree in ecology, a master's degree in conservation ecology and sustainable development and a doctorate in ecology. Her graduate work was conducted at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Andrews also has engaged in international marine work for over 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Program Specialist
- Program Specialist for Marine Extension
serves as program specialist for Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in Athens, Georgia. In her role, she serves as an assistant within the administrative team helping with payment processing, event planning and general clerical support. Ferguson spent over ten years working as a public-school educator, serving elementary age students and their families, primarily with special education programs. She obtained her degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Flagler College in 2005.
Originally from north Florida, she moved with her family to Athens in 2014. In her free time, she enjoys camping and hiking in the mountains, gardening, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Marine Resource Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of Marine
Risse is a double dawg, having received his bachelor and master's degrees at UGA in agricultural engineering and his Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering at Purdue University. At UGA, Risse has received recognition as a Fellow in the International Soil and Water Conservation Society. He is a Walter Bernard Hill Fellow, the university's highest honor for public service and outreach and is a life member of the UGA Rugby Club. Risse lives on a small beef cattle farm outside of Athens with his wife, Chris, and enjoys fishing, gardening, visiting his daughters and watching Georgia football games.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Chef Manager
- Coastal Community Resilience Specialist
- Community Resilience Specialist
- Community Resiliency Specialist and a Certified Floodplain Manager
is the unit's Coastal Community Resiliency Specialist and a certified floodplain manager. She works with the community, NGOs, and local, state, and federal government partners across Georgia and the greater Southeast region on resiliency projects. Prior to coming to the University of Georgia, Jones served as the planning department manager for the Coastal Regional Commission, the coastal resource manager for Nueces County in Texas, and the state coastal planner for South Carolina. In addition, she has 15 years of environmental consulting experience working on projects across the U.S.
Jones attended Bethel College for her undergraduate in environmental science and received her master's in environmental law & policy from the University of Denver. She grew up in Augusta and has lived all over the U.S. She is happy to be in coastal Georgia and close to home again.
As Chef Manager, Jones provides meals served to student and university groups participating in education programs at the Marine Education Center and Aquarium in Savannah.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, he has an associate degree in culinary arts and a bachelor's degree in culinary management from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In his spare time, he enjoys relaxing and watching the Green Bay Packers on Sundays.
Michelle Covi joined the unit in September 2021 and works regionally in the Southeast to connect Sea Grant programs with military community coastal resilience projects through a partnership with SERPPAS (Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability) and the Department of Defense REPI (Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration) program.
She comes to Georgia after six years as a coastal resilience lead in the Virginia Sea Grant extension program with Old Dominion University and six years with a coastal hazards center at East Carolina University where she also completed her doctorate in coastal resources management. Covi is a University of Georgia alumna, having received her master's degree in zoology (marine science) after completing research at the UGA Marine Institute. She lives on her husband's family farm in Hartwell, Georgia, just a couple of miles from the Savannah River.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Georgia Sea Grant
Job Titles:
- Coastal Ecology Research Professional
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Marine Education Volunteer
Job Titles:
- Administrative Financial Director
Job Titles:
- Marine Educator and Public Program Coordinator
Two smaller powered vessels - a 23-foot Sea Ox with a forward cabin and a 21-foot Carolina Skiff - are available for water quality and inshore fishery research projects.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Job Titles:
- Event and Scheduling Coordinator / Accts. Receivable
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- Nature - Based Solutions Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Shellfish Research Lab
Job Titles:
- Marine Operations Supervisor and Boat Captain
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Specialist