When it comes to marine science, make no mistakes, Dr. Dionne Hoskins-Brown is an expert. Not only has the Fishery Biologist spent years studying and adding to the field, but she has also worked tirelessly teaching and mentoring others to become the next generation of great scientists. Her countless hours of dedication to fisheries is the reason why Dr. Hoskins-Brown is one of the honorees of the Georgia Water Coalition’s 2021 Clean 13 Award.
A native of Virginia’s tidewater area, Dr. Hoskins-Brown has spent a great deal of her childhood along coastal waters, so choosing fisheries as a career seemed to be a perfect fit. The academic scholar has had a career with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since the mid-90s. However, in 2000, the agency tapped Hoskins-Brown to serve as the Director of the Cooperative Program at Savannah State University in Savannah, GA. Her role at the historically black university allows her to continue her passion for marine science research, but in addition, she now has the privilege of teaching and mentoring the students in the field of fisheries.
“As soon as freshmen come in, we immediately immerse them into the world of marine science,” stated Hoskins-Brown. “Providing hands on experiences such as getting on the boat, going into coastal waters and doing research in the lab are all aspects of the field that my students are immersed into early on.”
In her role as NOAA LMRCSC program director at Savannah State University, Dr. Hoskins-Brown’s passion and hands-on teaching approach has afforded the NOAA LMRCSC many successes. Since the collegiate institution’s partnership with the federal agency, the program has graduated a number of students in marine science, with some students going on to become NOAA scientists. Currently, Dr. Hoskins-Brown has graduated over 63 scholars with nearly half of the graduate students pursuing Ph.D. degrees.
“My job is to channel students’ curiosity into questions we need to answer,” stated Hoskins-Brown. “I like to introduce young scholars to new pathways that they may not have known existed. It’s awesome to see their professional skills and their intellectual curiosity develop.”
Dr. Hoskins-Brown’s dedication to fisheries does not stop with her career at NOAA and Savannah State University. The scientist and associate professor is also the chair of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission – a National Heritage Area established by the United States Congress. The non-profit organization focuses on the preservation of the history, cultural practices and natural resources of the Gullah Geechee people of the coastal corridors of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
With all of Dr. Hoskins-Brown’s accomplishments in the academic setting and in her community, it is very befitting that she is an honoree of the Georgia Water Coalition’s 2021 Clean 13 award. Due to her hard work and dedication, she continues to be an invaluable asset to the environment, her students and her community.
