The Wisconsin Sea Grant College Program today announced the hire of Phil Moy as its assistant director for outreach and research. In this role, Moy will assist in monitoring the progress of Wisconsin Sea Grant’s 42 currently funded research projects; identify new areas for research, incorporating those into strategic plans; and oversee the activities of the marine advisory services staff.
Moy holds a Ph.D. in fisheries biology from Southern Illinois University. Upon receiving his degree, he served as fisheries biologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before joining Wisconsin Sea Grant in 1999. Moy is a member of numerous advisory boards and commissions on fisheries and aquatic invasive species-related issues in the Great Lakes region.
He also served as acting director of outreach while the then-director had been on leave to work in the NOAA National Sea Grant Office. Since February of this year, Moy has been acting assistant director.
“My time with Sea Grant has been professionally and personally rewarding, and I look forward to the opportunity to apply my experience to the challenges offered by the assistant director position,” Moy said.
He noted that the program has opportunities to chart new directions, particularly since two of the longtime outreach specialists retire in June. “This will catalyze us to determine some possible new focus areas for our outreach efforts,” he said.
Change aside, some things remain stable, Moy said. “We look forward to continuing our good working relationships with Great Lakes and Sea Grant partners, and reaching out to constituency groups – existing and new.”
“This is an important position for Wisconsin Sea Grant. Phil’s accepted offer to lead our research grant-making program that funds Wisconsin’s premier aquatic scientists, and our robust team of outreach staff who work with coastal communities to apply that research, is good news,” said Anders Andren, Wisconsin Sea Grant director.
