Advisory Board

Lisa Auermuller

Lisa Auermuller serves as the Administrative Director of Rutgers’ NSF-funded Megalopolitan Coastal Transformation Hub (MACH).  In this role, Lisa is the central manager of overall operations of the multi-institution effort.  Lisa establishes mechanisms for collaborative sharing of findings among project partners, conducts regular outreach to promote coordination and collaboration with government agencies, and community leaders, and facilitates meaningful and routine collaboration and sharing among project partners. 

Prior to 2023, Lisa was the Assistant Manager of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JC NERR) in Tuckerton, NJ where she had been employed since 2002.  Lisa oversaw the day-to-day management of JC NERR’s Coastal Center as well as the Reserve’s education, outreach, communications, and Coastal Training Program. 

Vidya Balasubramanyam

Vidya Balasubramanyam is the program director for Coastal States Organization. 

Syverine Bentz

As a Research Professional with the University of Alaska, Syverine has served as PI or collaborative lead for science transfer, research and catalyst projects and ensures meaningful engagement and process co-development in collaborative initiatives at Kachemak Bay NERR. Her work focuses on facilitating knowledge sharing and maintaining reciprocal relationships with Alaskan communities, local experts, agencies, and colleagues nationwide to help shape reserve priorities and connect resources to decision-makers. She coordinates the Coastal Training Program, providing reserve-based scientific information, access to technologies, and skill-building opportunities to leaders and professionals addressing coastal management issues.

Betsy Blair

Betsy Blair chairs the NERRS Science Collaborative Advisory Board. She has 35 years' experience leading coastal habitat protection initiatives, advancing public policy, and developing collaborative science teams, including many years as manager of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Victoria Congdon

Victoria Congdon is the Research Coordinator at the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Port Aransas, TX. She coordinates ecological research and monitoring programs that advance our knowledge and understanding of coastal ecosystems, habitats and natural resources in collaboration with program partners. Her research experience and interests in environmental drivers of plant/animal condition, as well as coastal plant ecology, reproduction and restoration, aim to address coastal management needs.

Deanna Erickson

Deanna Erickson is the director and previous education coordinator at the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. Her work focuses on organizational leadership, professional development for educators, community engagement and environmental sense of place and she works to center Indigenous and local knowledge in the NERRS and beyond. She lives, works and paddles in Ojibwe Anishinaabe country on the St. Louis River/Chi-gami ziibi at the headwaters of Lake Superior, the largest surface of freshwater on earth.

Kaitlin Gannon

Kaitlin is the Education Coordinator for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve in Tuckerton, NJ. There, Kaitlin manages the JC NERR's education programs and community science opportunities for community members, K-12 students, and formal and informal educators. 

Joelle Gore

As the Chief of the Stewardship Division for NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, Joelle helps support and coordinate national priorities and strategies for statutory and other national coastal partnership programs. Noelle has worked at NOAA since 1992 and has served as the Acting Chief of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management's Coastal Programs Division and the Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. She received her B.A. in Architecture and Design from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in Planning from the University of Virginia.

Susan Park

As CERF Executive Director, Dr. Park supports the Governing Board and the myriad of volunteers that serve the Federation. She serves as a link between the society’s membership and the Board, and serves as liaison, spokesperson and cultural bridge to the CERF Affiliate Societies, volunteers and partners. Her responsibilities include leadership and oversight of CERF's biennial scientific conference, their scientific journal Estuaries and Coasts, and CERF's day-to-day business operations. She received her Ph.D in oceanography from the University of Delaware.

Colby Peffer

Colby Peffer is the Stewardship Coordinator at the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. As SC of the Reserve, Colby works collaboratively on natural resource management, habitat restoration, public access, and sustainability projects. She has research experience in coastal Georgia salt marshes and barrier island habitats, as well as a background in geospatial analysis and piloting drones to collect habitat data in coastal environments.

Robert Pirani

Robert Pirani is the director for the New York-­New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) and senior director for engagement and policy at the Hudson River Foundation. The Foundation inspires and informs action through science and engaging people to enhance the Hudson River, estuary, and watershed.  To help meet that mission, it hosts the HEP collaboration of government, scientists and the civic sector, one of the 28 National Estuary Programs authorized under the Clean Water Act.  Prior to joining the Foundation in 2014, Mr. Pirani was vice president for energy and environment at Regional Plan Association and executive director of the Governors Island Alliance.  Mr. Pirani has received awards from the Environmental Advocates of New York, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and The New York Harbor School Foundation.  Mr. Pirani has served as a founding board member of the four­state Highlands Coalition, Governors Island Alliance and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative.  Mr. Pirani holds a Masters Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and BA in Environmental Studies from Hampshire College.

Rebecca Roth

Rebecca Roth is the executive director of the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association. She works with Congress and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support annual budget appropriations and legislative priorities that enhance the value of all reserves for their many partners and stakeholders. She also works closely with NOAA and other federal agencies to help shape regulations and policies to sustain healthy estuaries nationwide. Rebecca earned her Masters of Arts Degree in Public Administration and Policy at San Francisco State University and her Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and City Planning at San Diego State University.

Hilary Stevens

Hilary Stevens is the Coastal Resilience Senior Manager at Restore America's Estuaries. She oversees the Blue Carbon and Living Shorelines programs. She is a geologist and environmental scientist with extensive experience in coastal resource management. Hilary has worked on coastal issues and climate change adaptation around the US and globally, with an emphasis on using best-available science to address community needs and improve resource management. She has a particular affinity for island communities, stemming from her time working in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, and as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. She holds a master's from Yale University and a B.S. from Wesleyan University.

Kristen Yarincik

Kristen Yarincik is Executive Director of the IOOS Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the successful implementation and growth of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and its mission to deliver sustained quality and timely information about our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. Previously, Kristen served as Vice President and Director of Research and Education at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, where she managed programs that facilitated multi-sector collaboration for advancing ocean science community priorities. Kristen 20+ years of experience leading community building and convening efforts around topics and issues of community-wide interest, including ocean observation; marine biodiversity; ocean education and workforce development; and addressing harassment. Kristen holds a master's degree in Earth science (paleoceanography) from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in Geoscience from Boston College.