Term: 2023-2026
Monitoring and Assessment Team Assignment: Wetland Resources (Lead)
STAC Member Since: August 2016
Title: Associate Professor
Department: Biology & Physical Sciences, Chowan University
Education: PhD Coastal Resources Management/Coastal Ecology, East Carolina University (2005) MA Marine Science/Coastal Processes, College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (1990) BS Geological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (1984)
Primary Focus Area: Coastal ecology with emphasis on wetland, estuarine, and coastal barrier ecosystems.
Secondary Focus Area(s): Coastal resources management, restoration ecology.
Career Experiences: Bo is a coastal ecologist with broad training in the ecological and geological sciences and 10 years’ experience in natural resource management and policy. This includes positions with the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska, Redwood National Park, Biscayne National Park, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources, and the North Carolina Coastal Reserve on the Outer Banks. Bo’s research interests include understanding the influence of abiotic factors on ecological processes, species diversity, and habitat variability. Previous work evaluated the use of trophic networks for ecosystem-based management. More recent efforts involve understanding the effects of sea level rise and land use change on coastal communities. This work utilizes long-term monitoring sites along the Outer Banks and in northeast North Carolina. A major aspect of his work involves student participation in field studies and environmental research.