Kevin Stokesbury named inaugural Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Dean of SMAST

Made possible by Donna and Robert Manning, the endowed deanship honors Stokesbury's extraordinary research and impact on sustainable fisheries

UMass Dartmouth announced that Kevin D. E. Stokesbury, Dean of the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) and Commonwealth Professor, has been named the inaugural Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Dean of the School for Marine Science and Technology.

The endowed deanship was established through the generosity of Donna and Robert Manning as part of their historic $50 million gift to the University of Massachusetts system announced in 2021. A $2 million gift supporting the deanship has been matched with an additional $1 million, providing enduring support for the leadership of SMAST and its research, teaching, and contributions to a healthier and more sustainable marine environment.

"Under Dean Stokesbury's leadership, the School for Marine Science and Technology at UMass Dartmouth is the premier institution—in New England and beyond—for marine and applied sciences," said Rob Manning, who serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at the UMass Foundation. "From attracting a world-class research faculty to building strong, trusted relationships across government, advocacy, and fisheries, Dean Stokesbury has positioned SMAST at the forefront of scientific discovery, and Donna and I are proud to support and advance his work."

Stokesbury was the founding chair of SMAST's Department of Fisheries Oceanography, serving from 2005 to 2016, and has become one of the region's most influential fisheries scientists. His research in the marine ecology of invertebrates and fish has been supported by more than 100 competitive grants totaling over $40 million, and he has testified before Congress five times.

“Rob and Donna Manning have never stopped investing in the students, faculty, and excellence of UMass, and this deanship is another exciting result of their extraordinary generosity and leadership," said UMass President Marty Meehan. "There is no one more deserving of this honor than Dean Kevin Stokesbury. Dean Stokesbury’s work on the sea scallop fisheries helped save an industry, protected livelihoods, and ensured New Bedford remained the most productive fishing port in the nation. I also want to thank Chancellor Mark Fuller, whose leadership continues to strengthen UMass Dartmouth as an engine of research and opportunity for the region and the Commonwealth.”

"The entire UMass Dartmouth community is grateful to the Mannings for their extraordinary support of our University. Through this endowed deanship, they are investing in the kind of academic leadership that drives institutions forward," said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller. "Kevin Stokesbury has played a defining role in SMAST's growth and success, and this recognition reflects both his accomplishments and the strength of the school he leads. His vision and leadership will help position SMAST for even greater impact in the years ahead."

"Kevin's research has distinguished him not only for its scientific rigor, but for its relevance to the people and industries that depend on sustainable oceans," said UMass Dartmouth Provost Ramprasad Balasubramanian. "By building research partnerships with the local fishing industry, regulators, scientists, and policymakers, he has helped translate marine science into better-informed fisheries management and tangible benefits for coastal communities. That ability to connect discovery with real-world application is a hallmark of his exceptional scholarship."

Stokebury's leadership extends across the national and international marine science communities. Stokesbury chaired the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea's Scallop Assessment Working Group from 2013 to 2018 and has served on National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine initiatives examining fisheries monitoring, offshore energy development, and the science supporting the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. He has also served in leadership roles with the National Shellfisheries Association and on the editorial boards of major fisheries and marine science journals.

"I am honored to receive the inaugural Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Endowed Deanship. I am deeply grateful to the Mannings for their generous gift to the University, and President Meehan, Chancellor Fuller, Provost Balasubramanian, and the Board of Trustees for this recognition," said Stokesbury. "The scallop industry of New Bedford is outstanding, and I love working with them and the rest of the fishing industries of New England. SMAST is a powerhouse of Marine Science providing an exceptional climate for research, education, and collaboration. We have graduated over 200 students who are working across the United States and in 14 other countries, with 96% in their chosen careers. In the coming years, we plan to continue developing technology and models to understand our rapidly changing oceans, predict how marine ecosystems and fisheries will respond to those changes, and translate that knowledge into sustainable management strategies to support our fisheries, our communities, and our region."

SMAST is home to internationally recognized research addressing climate change, sustainable fisheries and food security, offshore energy development, coastal ecosystem resilience, marine technology, ocean observation, and other urgent challenges facing the world's oceans. Its graduate programs prepare scientists and professionals for careers in academia, government, conservation, industry, and marine resource management. Alumni have gone on to positions with organizations including NOAA, the New England Fishery Management Council, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.