The UW College of the Environment is pleased to announce that Nives Dolšak has agreed to serve for a three-year term as director of the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, effective September 1, 2019.

Dolšak studies how common pool resources are governed. She looks at the role of community action, social capital, market-based instruments, as well as traditional regulatory policies. Her research has examined these issues in the context of Washington State, the United States, Eastern and Central Europe, as well as whole world. A special area of focus is on global climate change policies that have been developed and implemented from the local to international level. Regionally she studies collaborative salmon management through Washington Sea Grant funded research, and serves as a member of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Science Panel.

“I believe that Dolšak is well prepared to navigate the next several years of immediate challenges, and to create a clear and unifying long-term vision for the school that leverages the existing strengths and creates an innovative and strategic framework for future faculty hires, student recruitment and curricular offerings,” said Lisa Graumlich, dean and Mary Laird Wood Professor at the College of the Environment. “The search committee recognized the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs as “a small but sparkling gem,” and I am excited to have the opportunity to work closely with Dolšak to help maintain the rich and rigorous scholarship and education programing in the School within a culture that welcomes and supports all faculty, staff, and students.”

The College would also like to thank Terrie Klinger for her service as the outgoing director.

David Fluharty has generously agreed to take on the role of interim director, effective July 1-August 31, 2019.

Finally, thanks are due to the advisory search committee for their outreach to the marine and environmental affairs community, including Clare Ryan (Committee Chair, Professor, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences), Alison Cullen (Professor, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance), Ryan Kelly (Associate Professor, School of Marine and Environmental Affairs) and Hettie Scofield (Administrator, Department of Atmospheric Sciences).