Richard Arnold serves as Director of Professional Studies at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, bringing unique experience as both an educator and NASA astronaut. After completing his BS from Frostburg State University and MS in Marine and Estuarine Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, he built an impressive career spanning global education and space exploration. As a NASA astronaut from 2004 to 2023, he completed two missions to the International Space Station, conducting five spacewalks totaling over 32 hours

Dr. Bill Dennison serves as Interim President at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), where he previously served as Vice President for Science Application from 2002 to 2023. After completing his PhD in Biology from the University of Chicago, followed by positions at UMCES Horn Point Laboratory and University of Queensland, he has established himself as a prominent voice in marine ecology with over 4,400 citations for his most-cited work. His research focuses on coastal ecosystem health, particularly seagrass ecology and water quality assessment. As founder of the Integration and Application Network (IAN), he pioneered approaches to environmental assessment and science communication, developing report cards and other tools to evaluate ecosystem health. Through his leadership roles in the Chesapeake Bay Program and Australia's Healthy Waterways initiative, he has significantly influenced environmental management practices worldwide. His work spans multiple areas including marine botany, ecosystem assessment, and science communication, with particular emphasis on translating complex scientific findings into actionable management strategies. Currently leading UMCES as Interim President while continuing his research and advisory roles, he advances environmental science while promoting effective science communication and stakeholder engagement in environmental management.

Dr. Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen serves as Science Integrator at the Integration and Application Network of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, where she specializes in transdisciplinary collaboration and socio-environmental governance. After completing her BS and MS in Molecular Biology and Marine Science from the University of the Philippines, followed by MS and PhD degrees from the University of Maryland, she has established herself as a pioneer in socio-environmental assessment methodologies. Her work focuses on developing holistic approaches to environmental challenges through science communication and stakeholder engagement. As the first PhD graduate under UMCES's Environment and Society foundation, she has significantly influenced understanding of how socio-environmental report cards can facilitate transdisciplinary collaboration. Through her leadership of international research consortia spanning the US, Norway, Philippines, Japan, and India, she continues to advance environmental governance while promoting innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement. Her expertise particularly shines in developing assessment tools for complex watersheds, demonstrated through her work on the Mississippi River and Chesapeake Bay projects. Currently leading multiple transdisciplinary initiatives, she combines her background in molecular biology with social science approaches to address complex environmental challenges through collaborative solutions.