SoundWaters Welcomes Director of Coastal Resiliency Projects

SoundWaters, the nonprofit organization dedicated to the resilience of Long Island Sound and its shoreline, has hired Sean Ryan as its first-ever Director of Coastal Resiliency Projects.

Ryan received his Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography from the University of Connecticut, where he investigated the impact of climate change on seaweeds. He holds certifications as a Rescue Diver from Scuba Diving International and as a Scientific Scuba Diver from the American Academy of Underwater Sciences. While a doctoral student, he served as a member of the UConn Dive Safety Board.

Coastal resiliency projects at SoundWaters combine tangible efforts to improve the health of Long Island Sound with a focus on public engagement and student learning. In the past, such projects have included coastal cleanups, kelp farming, oyster seeding, water quality testing, habitat restoration and climate science studies.

“Adding Sean to our leadership team will strengthen our capacity for local impact in every sense, allowing us to engage more deeply with our shoreline community as well as with the Sound,” said SoundWaters President Leigh Shemitz. “With his expertise in climate science and his practical experience in the marine environment, we’ll be able to engage more people in our kelp farming, expand our work in restorative ecology and offer students opportunities for research at an extremely sophisticated level. We are excited about Sean’s commitment to our mission, and we look forward to seeing him grow our coastal resiliency programs in depth and breadth.”