Building on a strong foundation
Dear CCS community,
It has been just a couple of weeks since I had the great honor of stepping into the role of director of CCS and I have already been deeply impressed by the commitment and drive of the CCS community to make key contributions to solving todays’ big coastal challenges.
CCS is known for its cutting‑edge research, effective outreach and close collaboration with academic, industry, government, nonprofit and community partners. I look forward to building on this strong foundation as we guide CCS into its next chapter.
I would like to thank Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., for his leadership during this period of transition, as well as the associate directors, staff and advisory board whose dedication has helped CCS continue to grow and thrive. Their work positions us well for the opportunities ahead.
With the conclusion of our three-year strategic plan in 2025, the coming months will center on assessing our progress, setting priorities for the future, and planning for the next phase. At the same time, I am excited to announce that we will be rolling out some new initiatives and are exploring some new opportunities. One new initiative that I am particularly looking forward to is the launch of a CCS student club, which will offer students leadership, engagement and funding opportunities. Special thanks to Lea Eggensberger and Noah Evans, both Ph.D. students in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment (ESSIE) for volunteering to take leadership roles in the launch of the club.
I also want to acknowledge changes in CCS leadership. Maitane Olabarrieta, Ph.D., has stepped down as associate director after making key contributions since CCS’s founding; we are grateful for her service and happy she will remain as affiliate faculty. Andrew Altieri, Ph.D., and David Kaplan, Ph.D., continue as associate directors, and I am excited to announce that Xiao Yu, Ph.D., associate professor, and Alberto Canestrelli, Ph.D., associate professor both in the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering have also joined the leadership team.
Finally, I am deeply grateful to the search committee, to the leadership of ESSIE and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, and to the CCS community, for placing their trust in me.
I look forward to working with all of you to advance research, foster collaboration, prepare the next generation of the coastal workforce and develop solutions for Florida’s and the nation’s coastal challenges, today and in the future.