FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 26, 2007

New Director Will Build on Past IISG Successes

URBANA - In its 25th anniversary year, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is pleased to announce that Dr. Brian Miller is the program's new director. Brian Miller brings a background rich in Sea Grant and extension to the program--over the past 13 years, he has been IISG's outreach coordinator and associate director.

Miller also has a long history with Purdue University, apart from Sea Grant. There, he was awarded his doctorate in natural resource social sciences. Miller served as a Purdue University Extension wildlife specialist for 17 years and, for the past two years, as the extension coordinator for the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

During his tenure with Sea Grant, Miller has played a key role in initiating a number of successful programs and partnerships. Through Miller's efforts IISG has expanded its partnership with the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office to address broader Great Lakes ecosystem issues such as monitoring and remediation of contaminants. Miller also played a pivotal role in the signing of the historic Wingspread Tri-State Accord, an agreement by four regional planning agencies to address economic and environmental concerns across traditional boundaries. And, Miller was instrumental in the development of the Planning with POWER project, which is fostering smart growth along Indiana's coast.

"The most rewarding part of my job with Sea Grant has been working with staff members in our program and around the network to develop projects that have impact for our clients," said Miller. "I'd like to build upon the past and make the program even more effective. If we develop strong ties with industry, federal agencies, and other organizations involved in Great Lakes resources, the program has potential to have a substantial impact in the region."

"I am delighted to have an experienced leader in the Sea Grant directorship," said Dennis Campion, University of Illinois associate dean of extension and outreach. IISG is administered through University of Illinois Extension. "Under Dr. Brian Miller's leadership, we look forward to enhancing our strong working relationship between the two universities and with key leaders in the Great Lakes."

"I believe Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is positioned for growth," said Miller. "Stakeholders around the Tri-State Accord area, which is one of the nation's fastest growing coastal regions, are ready to engage in programs that apply university discoveries to achieve a sustainable future."

The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of more than 30 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes needs.  Funding is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana.
 

Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
Phone:  217-333-8055
Fax:  217-333-8046
miles@illinois.edu