The University of Southern Mississippi: Southern Miss and EPA Sign New Memorandum of Understanding
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The MOU signing included the following officials: Front
row: Diane Altsman, Chief of Staff, EPA Gulf Program; President Rodney D.
Bennett, USM; Back row: LaKeshia Robertson, Life Scientist, EPA Gulf Program;
Monty Graham, Interim Director GCRL and Chair, Department of Marine Science,
USM; Chris Snyder, Director of GCRL's Marine Education Center; Jessica Kastler,
Program Coordinator, GCRL's Marine Education Center; and Dr. Steve Miller, Vice
President, USM Gulf Park Campus. (Photo by Martha Brown)
Today, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program (EPA Gulf Program) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will serve to increase cooperation between the two in areas of mutual interest.
USM President Rodney D. Bennett and Diane T. Altsman, EPA
Gulf Program Chief of Staff signed the MOU at the University’s Gulf Coast
Research Laboratory (GCRL) in Ocean Springs, Miss. The agreement formalizes a
partnership between Southern Miss and the EPA Gulf Program and will provide
environmental education opportunities to students at GCRL.
“I am excited to have this opportunity to further expand
the University’s role in researching the Gulf of Mexico and its impact on the
coastal region,” said President Bennett. “Our partnership with the EPA Gulf
Office will allow for greater agency collaboration as we work to create
stronger links between Gulf resources, education and research opportunities,
and community and economic development.”
This alliance will allow USM and the EPA Gulf Office to
offer combined technical skills and research to work toward resolving
environmental and natural resource problems within the ecological system of the
Gulf of Mexico.
“The EPA Gulf Program will work closely with GCRL to
develop and implement programs that promote sound science and experiential
learning of Gulf ecosystems. This collaborative effort will pave the way for
future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),
ultimately creating gatekeepers of our most treasured Gulf,” said Diane
Altsman, Chief of Staff, EPA Gulf of Mexico Program. “This partnership will
advance both parties mission to educate and engage students and parents in
efforts to restore and preserve the Gulf.”
The agreement will also promote equal opportunity in
higher education, contribute to the capacity of the EPA Gulf Program to provide
high-quality education, encourage participation of USM students and faculty in
the Gulf Program’s activities, and assist the EPA Gulf Program in expanding the
conversation on environmentalism and working for environmental justice while
stimulating an interest in STEM. Activities under the MOU will include guest
lectures, a student shadowing program, research opportunities, and outreach and
engagement programs.
“We are excited about the formalization of this
relationship with EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program. Over the years we have worked
together on a variety of education and outreach projects and programs. Our
shared goals and purposes make this a natural and productive partnership,” said
Chris Snyder, Director of GCRL’s Marine Education Center. “This new agreement
will only make this partnership stronger and will make our work together more
efficient and effective. We are looking forward to a long and productive
relationship with the Gulf Office.”
For more information about The University of Southern
Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Lab, visit http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/.
Author
Martha
Brown
GCRL Public Information Office
