SBU Dean of the School of Marine Sciences Appointed NSF Director, Division of Ocean Sciences

University News


SBU Dean of the School of Marine Sciences Appointed NSF Director, Division of Ocean Sciences
SoMAS Dean Dr. David O. Conover will retain faculty appointment at Stony Brook University

STONY BROOK, NY, April 28, 2010 – Dr. David O. Conover, Dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University, has accepted a position as the Director of the Division of Ocean Sciences with the National Science Foundation (NSF), effective July 19, 2010. Dr. Conover has served with distinction as Dean of SoMAS for the past seven years, and will remain a faculty member with SoMAS during his service to the NSF.  



David O. Conover

Conover joined the faculty of Stony Brook University in 1981 and became Dean in 2003. Under his leadership, SoMAS has greatly expanded its faculty, added two undergraduate majors, increased its enrollment more than five-fold, acquired new waterfront research and education facilities, attracted state funding to build a new $7 million marine lab, and greatly amplified its endowments. Conover founded and serves as the Executive Director of the New York Marine Sciences Consortium, representing 27 academic institutions with marine science expertise in the state. He has served on boards of the New York Sea Grant Institute, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, and the National Association of Marine Laboratories. Dr. Conover also serves as the SUNY Chancellor’s designee on the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council, which is charged with designing ecosystem-based approaches for managing New York’s aquatic resources. 
“My entire professional career has been based at Stony Brook and it has been a wonderful experience, including the great honor and privilege to serve as Dean. My enthusiasm for SoMAS and SBU remains exceedingly high, but the NSF position provides an unparalleled opportunity for me to work on ocean science and policy issues in D.C. on a national and international scale and to give something back ...

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