Organization Chart

A colorful organization chart of Oregon Sea Grant.

Organizational Structure 

Jayathi Murthy, President Oregon State University 

Oregon State University is home to Land, Sea, Sun, and Space Grant programs. Oregon Sea Grant is a collaborative program with NOAA that is administered by Oregon State University. Oregon Sea Grant is administered by the OSU Research Office and collaborates with the Division of Extension and Engagement. The Vice President for Research leads the Research Office and reports to the President. The Interim Vice Provost for Extension & Engagement and the Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences both report to the Provost who in turn reports to the President. 

Irem Tumer, Vice President for Research 

Irem Tumer, the VP for Research, is responsible for developing strategy and advocating for research while leading and managing the core functions of the research enterprise, including administration of OSU affiliated centers and institutes. Oregon Sea Grant is among the centers and institutes administered by the Research Office. The VP for Research supervises the Associate Vice President for Research, Finance, and Administration, Jennifer Creighton, who supervises the Oregon Sea Grant Fiscal Officer.  

Belinda Batten, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President 

Belinda Batten is the interim chief academic and operating officer of Oregon State University and oversees progress on the University’s strategic goals in education, scholarship, engagement, internationalization, and institutional reputation. In partnership with Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Provost also ensures that the financial resources and administrative and physical infrastructure of OSU are closely aligned with the OSU mission as a leading land grant research university with a focus on inclusive excellence and the deep integration of research, teaching, and engagement. The Provost supervises the Interim Vice Provost for Extension & Engagement as well as the Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. 

Kristopher Elliott, Interim Vice Provost for Extension & Engagement and Interim Director of the Oregon State University Extension 

Kristopher Elliott, the Interim Vice Provost for Extension and Engagement, provides strategic leadership and oversight of the university’s community engagement mission and directs the statewide OSU Extension service. This role has a dotted line (communication and collaboration) relationship with the Oregon Sea Grant Director, Karina Nielsen. Wiley Thompson, Extension Regional Director for the Oregon Coast, reports to Vice Provost Elliott and co-supervises Oregon Sea Grant Extension specialists whose positions are county-based, with Oregon Sea Grant’s Associate Director of Extension & Engagement, Jessi Kershner. 

Karina Nielsen, Director Oregon Sea Grant  

Karina Nielsen, the Oregon Sea Grant Director, is responsible for developing strategy and partnerships, and advocating for the program, while leading and managing the core functions of the Oregon Sea Grant program. The director is supervised by the VP for Research. The director is a member of the Oregon Sea Grant Leadership Team whose members include the three Associate Directors and the Fiscal Officer. The Oregon Sea Grant Director and Leadership Team also receive input and guidance on issues important to the Sea Grant mission and goals from an Advisory Council of community volunteers. The following positions are supervised by the Director: 

  • Susie Conley, Project and Events Coordinator 
    This position is responsible for supporting the Director and three Associate Directors in project management, event coordination, and scheduling. This position supervises: 

    • Student Assistants 

  • Sandy Boles, HR Coordinator 

    This position serves as program liaison to OSU Human Resources. 

  • Sarah Kolesar, Associate Director for Research & Scholars
    This position is responsible for strategy, development, and oversight of the Oregon Sea Grant Research and Scholars Program. It oversees work by OSG-funded Principal Investigators, Fellows, and Scholars. The Associate Director for Research and Scholars is member of the Oregon Sea Grant Leadership Team and supervises: 

    • Stephanie Ichien, Program Coordinator 

    • Blaine Schoolfield, Undergraduate Program Coordinator 

    • Cathy McBride, Administrative Program Specialist 

  • Tracy Crews, Associate Director of Education
    This position is responsible for the development and operation of the Oregon Sea Grant Marine Education and public programs. The Associate Director of Education and Public Programs is a member of the Oregon Sea Grant Leadership Team and supervises: 

    • Cait Goodwin, Special Projects Coordinator 

    • Lindsay Carroll, Marine Education Coordinator 
      This position supervises: 

      • Jessie Crawford, Education Program Assistant 

      • Mary Hope, Education Program Assistant 

      • Greta Gannon, Seasonal Education Program Assistant 

      • Student Assistants 

  • Renee Fowler, Volunteer and Public Programs Coordinator 
    This position supervises: 

    • Athena Crichton, Hatfield Visitor Center Education Program Assistant  

    • Justin Barron, Hatfield Visitor Center Education Program Assistant 

    • Student Assistants 

    • Volunteer Docents 

  • Kama Almasi, Oregon Coast STEM Hub Director 
    This position supervises: 

    • Teresa Springer, Oregon Coast STEM Hub Coordinator 

    • Jenn Frey, Oregon Coast STEM Hub Coordinator- South Coast 

  • Stacia Carpenter, Hatfield Visitor Center Coordinator 
    The Hatfield Visitor Center Coordinator is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Hatfield Visitor Center and oversees work in the VC by the Technician from the iLab. Oregon Sea Grant operates the Hatfield VC in collaboration with the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center. This position supervises: 

    • Nicky Greiner, Hatfield Visitor Center Greeter & Cashier 

    • Student Assistants 

  • Vacant, Strategic Communications Lead 
    The Strategic Communications Lead is responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive communications program on behalf of Oregon Sea Grant. It reports to the Director and works collaboratively to advance program priorities and engage a diversity of audiences. This position supervises: 

    • Alli Masterson, IT Web Specialist 2 

    • Student Assistants 

  • Sheryl Powell, Oregon Sea Grant Fiscal Officer  
    This position is responsible for fiscal operations in collaboration with the Oregon Sea Grant Director and is a member of the Leadership Team. The Fiscal Officer reports to Jennifer Creighton, the Associate Vice President for Research, Finance, and Administration. The Oregon Sea Grant Fiscal Officer supervises:  

    • Roxy Tacy, Grants and Contracts Coordinator  

  • Jessi Kershner, Associate Director of Extension & Engagement 
    This position is responsible for strategy, development, and oversight of the Oregon Sea Grant Extension and Engagement program and is a member of the Leadership Team. Oregon Sea Grant Extension specialists often have an affiliation with an academic department and/or another OSU center or institute. The Associate Director of Extension and Engagement supervises the following Extension Specialists and Engagement program managers: 

    • Tim Miller-Morgan, Extension Veterinary Aquatic Animal Health  
      This position supervises: 

      • Sid Stetson, Aquatic Husbandry Lab Manager 

    • Sam Chan, Extension Watershed Health Specialist 

    • VACANT, Extension Coastal Economic Development Specialist 

    • Connie Sullivan, Boater Outreach Coordinator 

    • Miles Phillips, Extension Coastal Tourism and Recreation Specialist 

    • Alex Marquardt, Extension Coastal Mariculture Specialist (fixed term position) 

    • Valerie Berseth, Extension Human Dimensions of Coastal Systems Specialist 

    • Sara Swett, Extension Marine Renewable Energy and Communities Specialist (fixed term position) 

Oregon Sea Grant Extension Specialists based in the county offices of the OSU Extension Service are administratively supervised by Wiley Thompson, Extension Regional Director for the Oregon Coast. Their day-to-day (co-) supervisor is the Oregon Sea Grant Associate Director for Extension & Engagement:  

  • Amanda Gladics, Oregon Sea Grant Extension Fisheries Specialist 
    Clatsop County Extension Service Office 

  • Angee Doerr, Oregon Sea Grant Extension Marine Fisheries Specialist 
    Lincoln County Extension Service Office 

  • Felicia Olmeta Schult, Oregon Sea Grant Extension Coastal Hazards Specialist  
    Clatsop County Extension Service Office 

  • Jamie Doyle, Oregon Sea Grant Extension Community Development 
    Coos County Extension Service Office 

  • Miranda Gray, Oregon Sea Grant Extension Water Resources Educator 
    Curry County Extension Service Office 

The following Oregon Sea Grant Extension Specialists are supervised by another OSU academic unit and receive part-time support from Oregon Sea Grant. 

Supervised by Selina Heppell, Department Head of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences and co-supervised by the Associate Director for Extension and Engagement: 

  • Guillermo Giannico, Extension Fisheries Specialist and Professor of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences  

Supervised by Lisa Balance, Director of the Marine Mammal Institute and co-supervised by the Associate Director for Extension and Engagement: 

  • Leigh Torres, Extension Marine Mammals Specialist, Associate Professor of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences and Marine Mammal Institute (also co-supervised by Lisa Ballance, Director Marine Mammal Institute, College of Agricultural Sciences)  

Selina Heppell and Lisa Balance are supervised by Staci Simonich, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.