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 Research, Science and Program Director for the Coastal States Organization. In her role she coordinates multi state projects relating to mitigating coastal hazards, restoring shoreline habitat, and enhancing equitable climate resilience of coastal communities. She works in close coordination with coastal zone management programs and federal agencies across the nation to advance coastal science and management priorities with an emphasis on meaningful and authentic ways to center social justice issues in coastal management work.

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.

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.

Tom Fish

Dr. Tom Fish serves as program administrator for the national CESU Network, working across government, academia, and NGO communities to facilitate collaborative research, technical assistance, education and capacity building in support of natural and cultural heritage science and stewardship. His work spans a range of topics including global change, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem conservation, environmental values, training for protected area managers, and federal financial assistance. Tom previously held positions with NOAA Human Dimensions of Coastal Management, USDA Forest Service Social and Economic Dimensions of Ecosystem Management, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Newfound Harbor Marine Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in conservation biology (U. Minnesota), M.S. in science education (Florida Tech), and B.A.s in biology and German (Concordia College).

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.

Motz Grothues

Dr. Grothues has a Research Faculty appointment as a fish ecologist at Rutgers University, and is Research Coordinator for Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. He has extensively studied abundance and distribution of fishes as responses to physical factors, and is experienced in cross-disciplinary collaborations with biologists, physical and geological oceanographers, commercial fishers, and engineers, as well as Federal, State, municipal, and private-sector resource managers.

Sarah Nuss

Sarah Nuss serves as the Education Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, focusing on providing education and outreach for the local K-12 audience, including field experiences for students, professional development for teachers, and outreach programs for the general public. She is the co-PI for the Virginia Scientists & Educators Alliance (VASEA), focused on training graduate students on science communication and translating research into K-12 education products. Her research interests include student and teacher environmental literacy, preparation of pre-service teachers to utilize outdoor learning, and technology use within environmental education.

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.