MEES IN THE NEWS

MAY 2026 - environmental health month

NEWS ARCHIVE

2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award - dr. emily cohen (UMCES)

May 29, 2026 - The MEES Graduate Program warmly congratulates Dr. Emily Cohen (UMCES), Associate Professor based at the Appalachian Laboratory who was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. According to the program website, the Fulbright Scholar Award is one of the most prestigious and highly competitive grant designed to promote international collaboration, cultural exchange and mutual understanding (typically with faculty, researchers, etc.). In the UMCES announcement, Dr. Cohen will spend six months with the Lund Migration Group at Lund University in Sweden studying aeroecology with other renowned experts like Dr. Cecilia Nilsson. The MEES Graduate Program is so very proud of Dr. Cohen whose passion for education, research, discovery and hard work are being rewarded!

congratulations to our 2026 NSF Graduate Research Science Fellowship & 2026 cmns staff award recipients!!

2026 NSF GRFP AWARD RECIPIENTS 2026 CMNS ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS

April 27, 2026 - The MEES Graduate Program warmly congratulates Pauline Lawrence (M.S., ECOL SYS), Advisor: Ryan Woodland, and Aidan Hand a new incoming Fall 26 MEES doctoral student, Advisor; Emily Cohen, on being the recipients of the highly competitive and prestigious National Science Fellowship (NSF) Graduate Research Science Fellowship (GRFP) which is awarded to outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM. Out of the 14,000 applications submitted this year, our exceptional students were among the less than 20% selected!

The College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences also awarded our very own Dr. Timothy Canty, who serves not only as the Graduate Program Director for the MEES Program, but also as Associate Professor in the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Science the 2026 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Canty who joined the College Park faculty in 2007, helped launch AOSC’s undergraduate program and served as its director for over a decade. He also oversees the mandatory research component of the AOSC undergraduate program and serves as director for the department’s Master of Professional Studies program. Students note his passion for weather and climate, his willingness to go above and beyond to make sure students understand the content, and his famous class experiments being known for being “extremely hilarious and engaging”. Several also stated that taking his class convinced them to switch majors to AOSC and that he is always available during office hours for any questions. The MEES Graduate Program is so very proud of Dr. Canty whose passion for education, research, discovery and hard work are being rewarded!

The MEES Graduate Program warmly congratulates Valerie Bonhomme, for being selected to receive the 2026 CMNS Staff-NonExempt award! Valerie, a Terp alum, who joined the MEES Graduate Program staff in 2021, serves as the Program Administrative Specialist, whose duties expanded to the AOSC graduate program in 2022, overseeing the programs day to day operations in: admissions, graduation clearances, commencement, new faculty appointments and also serves on the MEES and AOSC tech teams managing email ListServ subscriptions, website content, including the online directory profiles and the program’s monthly news page. Valerie is also currently serving as AOSC’s staff DEI representative in the Graduate School’s Recruitment Team and an active member in the MEES Program committee member.

The MEES Program is proud of all our exceptional and passionate graduate students, faculty and staff, that make up this diverse and vibrant community!

MEES RESEARCH CENTER

fisheries sustainability: understanding the ecological & management processes of healthy marine ecosystems

dr. david die (UMES)

Dr. David Die is an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Appointed to the MEES Environment, Health & Society (EHS) Graduate Faculty in October 2025, Dr. Die specializes in fisheries sustainability, with a focus on understanding the ecological and management processes that support healthy marine ecosystems and long-term fishery productivity.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Die has conducted fisheries research around the world. His work has contributed to major fisheries management decisions, including fishing closures and fleet capacity reductions designed to improve sustainability and conserve marine resources. Before joining UMES in July 2025, he held positions with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, CSIRO Australia, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. He also spent more than 20 years at the University of Miami, where he served as both a Research Associate Professor and Adjunct Professor.

At the University of Miami, Dr. Die focused on fisheries sustainability and ecosystem-based management approaches. He mentored numerous graduate students and taught graduate-level courses in marine population dynamics, fisheries ecosystem management, and conservation. In addition to his academic work, he has provided scientific advice on fishery resources and conducted quantitative evaluations of fisheries management performance.

Dr. Die is a Fulbright and Reitmeister Scholar. He earned a B.S. in Zoology from the Universidad de La Laguna in Spain and a Ph.D. in Marine Living Resources from the University of Miami.

At UMES, Dr. Die’s current research includes the assessment and management of tuna, billfish, shark, and reef-fish fisheries in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. His projects focus on management strategy evaluation, marine ecosystem modeling, development of ecosystem indicators, and the ecological dynamics of larval fish. He also maintains active collaborations with fisheries scientists and institutions around the world.

Dr. Die previously served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). For more information on Dr. Die, please click here.

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assessing sustainable agriculture strategies for soybean production & economic resilience in the delmarva regiON

Bessie Green (Ph.D., ‘04)

Dr. Bessie Green (Ph.D., ‘04) is a retired professor from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), currently serving in numerous community organizations including in the Office of President Emeritus in the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council (SWAC), the National Association of Professional Women, and Board Vice-President of The Chipman Foundation Inc, a local non-profit organization based in Salisbury, MD which provides a low-cost public recreational facility and maintains a museum that highlights African American history on the Eastern Shore, specifically focusing on the 1838 Chipman Center. 

Prior to joining the MEES graduate program, Bessie Green earned a Master’s in Agriculture and Extension Education from UMES in 1988. Under the advisement of Dr. Ivar Holmberg, Bessie’s Master’s research explored how the role of high school agricultural teachers in Maryland has changed in response to new laws, shifts in the economy, and changing public attitudes about agriculture. The research involved surveying 50 vocational agriculture teachers to better understand their responsibilities and challenges.  The study found that teachers primarily serve as coordinators, motivators, and committed professionals who help implement agricultural education programs. Overall, respondents felt these programs were effective, but also identified concerns that could affect future success, including low student enrollment, limited student participation, and a negative public image of agriculture. Based on these findings, Bessie’s thesis research recommended several improvements included placing greater emphasis on academic and technology skills in agriculture classes, clearly defining teachers’ roles through policy and legislation, improving public relations efforts to attract more students, involving teachers more in shaping agricultural laws, providing better compensation for extra duties, supporting professional growth—especially for female instructors—and maintaining high standards of performance for both teachers and students. This thesis research was further expanded, continuing at UMES and matriculating into the MEES doctoral program with the doctoral research focusing on the agricultural crop of soybean.  Bessie Green earned a BA in Art from Salisbury State College and has artwork that is displayed in the USA and Japan depicting naturalistic subjects in watercolor on rice paper and acrylic on mixed media. 

Bessie Green earned her doctoral degree in Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences (MEES) in Fall 2004.   As an Agricultural Research Associate under the advisement of Dr. Robert Dadson (UMES), her doctoral research focused on investigating the symbiotic microbial communities of soybean (Glycine max), an economically significant crop in the Delmarva region.

Soybean seed is a major source of protein and oil for human consumption and livestock feed (including poultry). However, production can be significantly reduced by extended periods of severe drought and elevated summer temperatures. Bessie’s research examined the effectiveness of the root microenvironment in optimizing elite soybean genotypes—cultivars that demonstrate strong stress tolerance and adaptability across various soil types.

One key microorganism studied was Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which plays a critical role in nodulation and contributes significantly to high-yield soybean production across various genotypes. The research examined how naturally occurring soil viruses and bacteria interact with soybean plants, focusing on how these interactions affect the plant’s ability to take in nitrogen—a nutrient essential for healthy growth. Specifically, the study measured how well a beneficial bacterium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, helps soybean plants form root nodules that support nitrogen fixation. Based on the findings, the research proposed a practical solution: a soil treatment (called an inoculant) containing helpful microorganisms that could improve the bacteria’s ability to support soybean growth. This approach could provide farmers, agricultural advisors, and researchers with a strategy to strengthen soybean production and maintain long-term economic sustainability in the soils of the Delmarva region. Following graduation, Dr. Green has served in many roles including UMES Professor and instructor for graduate agricultural courses, has been involved in many projects collaborating with farmers from the Delmarva region in workshops and lectures on soil organisms, spearheaded, along with other UMES faculty and UMES partners, UMES’ agricultural summer enrichment programs for high school and undergraduate students which provide hands-on research and academic development to prepare students for college and future agricultural careers. Dr. Green has also advised the Fruitland Community Center for many agricultural related projects over the years.

Upon retirement, Dr. Green continues to serve the community in the Office of President Emeritus in the Salisbury Wicomica Arts Council (SWAC) as a Board member.  Dr. Green previously served as SWAC President, and was noted for her grounded intelligence and dynamic leadership; steering SWAC in positive directions with successful outcomes.  The SWAC is a non profit organization committed to expanding arts in the region by increasing awareness of existing organizations and artists by presenting art forms not readily available to the region.  For more information on Dr. Bessie Green, please click here.

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MEES RESEARCH CENTER

climate impacts on living coastal resources: A Study on the chesapeake Bay scallop alison novarra (‘24, ECOL SYS)

Alison Novarra is a second year MEES Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore working with Dr. Stephen Tomasetti (UMES) at the Coastal Environmental Science Lab.
Alison’s doctoral research aims at exploring climate change's growing impact on important fisheries species, specifically bay scallops. Specifically the research will compare historical population rates of bay scallops investigating elevated summer temperature and reproduction on bay scallop survival/stress responses in field setting.

Prior to joining the MEES graduate program, Allison earned her Bachelor’s in Marine Biology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) with honors making the Dean’s List for almost every semester in her career at NSU.  While at NSU, under the advisement of Dr. Paul Arena, Alison was the sole undergraduate on a lancetfish stomach content analysis project, organizing over two years of data from over 200 specimens, not only in classification and creating visuals, but also in contributing to a manuscript awaiting publication. With those results,  Alison developed a website providing accessible information to communities beyond NSU about common species, climate impacts and ways the public can contribute.  Alison was also awarded a Hollings Scholarship (2022), which gave her the opportunity to also complete fieldwork at the Florida Everglades and at one of the largest coral reef track in the U.S. 

Allison matriculated into the MEES doctoral program in Fall 2024 under the advisement of Dr. Steven Tomasetti. Through a New York Sea Grant, Alison’s current dissertation research included creating an index that establishes temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) thresholds for economically important shellfish species. Alison presented the preliminary results in January 2025 at a stakeholder meeting and created a poster presentation of this research which she  presented at the 2025 American Fisheries Society Tidewater Chapter Meeting in March 2025.  Allison aims to help influence marine policy, and inspire a passion for science in future generations. For more on Alison, please click here.

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