Speakers
Dr. Alison Wrynn
Since January 2023, Dr. Alison Wrynn has served as the Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs for the University System of Maryland.
From 2016-2022 Dr. Wrynn served in a variety of administrative roles for the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor including Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Programs, Innovations and Faculty Development. From 2014-2016 she served as the Director of Undergraduate Studies & General Education at CSU, Fullerton and, for 14 years she was a faculty member in the Department of Kinesiology at CSU, Long Beach, earning tenure and serving as a full Professor.
Dr. Wrynn’s academic career began with a BS in Physical Education from Springfield (Mass.) College, an MA in Physical Education from California State University, Long Beach and a PhD in Human Biodynamics from the University of California, Berkeley. Her area of scholarly research is in the History of Sports Medicine and Exercise Science, including a particular emphasis on gender issues. She served as the editor of the Journal of Sport History for the North American Society for Sport History and is a fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education and the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Louisa Koch, M.S.
Louisa Koch, NOAA’s Director of Education, educates and inspires the public and future workforce about the Earth System working with NOAA’s amazing array of people, partners, places and information. Ms. Koch also serves as NOAA’s National Team for NOAA’s Regional Collaboration Network, helping to address complex, place-based challenges that require interdisciplinary a regionally tailored solution. Ms. Koch served as NOAA’s acting Deputy Under Secretary and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research. Prior to joining NOAA, Ms. Koch served at the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Defense and the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress. Ms. Koch earned a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s in Physics from Middlebury College.
Dr. Cisco Werner
Dr. Cisco Werner is NOAA Fisheries’ Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor. He leads efforts to provide the science needed to support sustainable fisheries and ecosystems, rebuilding fish populations, saving critical species, and preserving vital habitats. As director, Cisco supervises the planning, development, and management of a multidisciplinary scientific enterprise of basic and applied research. He oversees NOAA’s six regional Fisheries Science Centers, including 24 labs and field stations. Prior to joining NOAA Fisheries, Cisco was Professor and Director of the Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies at Rutgers University. Cisco’s own research has focused on the study of oceanic environments through development of numerical models of ocean circulation and marine ecosystems, including the effects of physical forcing on the structure, function and abundance of commercially and ecologically important species. Cisco earned his B.S. in Mathematics and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Oceanography, all from the University of Washington.
