Team Members

Lead

  • Austin Becker - Dr. Austin Becker is Professor and Chair of the Department of Marine Affairs at URI. See his full bio on the MACRL homepage.

Current Members

  • Zachary Solomon, PhD Student
  • Vassilis Tsigourakos, PhD Student
  • Skye Howard, MAMA Student - Skye is a second year Master of Arts in Marine Affairs student at the University of Rhode Island. She joined the MACRL Lab in fall 2025, and her thesis will focus on how small coastal communities prepare for and respond to storm events with advisor Dr. Austin Becker.  Growing up in a small fishing community […]
  • Dr. Jon Nelson, Research Associate IV -  Dr. Jon Nelson works in the Marine Affairs Coastal Resilience Lab on several ongoing projects, including serving as Director of the National Science Foundation The Community-Driven Coastal Climate Research and Solutions (3CRS) Hub. Jon is originally from a Kansas farming family but has called Rhode Island my home for ten years. He completed a BA in Sociology at […]
  • Nicole Lengyel Costa, PhD Candidate - Research: Resilience of the Commercial Fishing Industry in the Port of Galilee, RI, to compounding Climatic and Social Pressures Background: I am a Rhode Island native and completed my Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from URI in 2005 and my Master of Science in Oceanography from the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. I currently […]
  • Greg Bonynge, Marine Research Associate IV - Greg serves as a lab manager and technical lead for the MACRL lab. In his work, he uses geospatial technologies (Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and remote sensing) to enhance coastal scientific research initiatives, particularly habitat change analyses. His work as the Rhode Island Geospatial Extension Specialist at the University of Rhode […]
  • Noah Hallisey, PhD Candidate - Research: Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing, Coastal Resilience, Coastal Hazard Impact Modeling, Disaster Risk Reduction Background: I completed my BS in Environmental Earth Sciences at Eastern Connecticut State University in 2018 and an MSc in Biological and Environmental Sciences at University of Rhode Island in 2021. I also have a graduate certificate in Geographic Information […]

Alumni

  • Kaylee Marie DiPasquale, MMA 2026 - Research:  Coastal resilience and science communication Background: B.A. Earth Sciences and Elementary Education with a concentration in Marine Sciences, Rider University Kaylee DiPasquale has a passion for coastal resilience and science communication. Kaylee’s affinity for the marine environment was fostered during her childhood exploring the coast in New Jersey. She also saw firsthand the effects of […]
  • Abigail Murray, MAMA 2026 - Abby joined the Marine Affairs Coastal Resilience Lab (MACRL) in Fall 2024, and her thesis investigated cruise ships and climate resilience with advisor Dr. Austin Becker. She grew up in the coastal community of Scituate, Massachusetts, which fostered her fascination and curiosity for the ocean. Abby attributes her passion for the marine environment to her […]
  • Bobby Witkop, MAMA 2018 - I am the FEMA Sr. Hazard Mitigation Specialist for Washington State. Previously, I developed Benefit Cost Analyses for state hazard mitigation officers and their constituents to win federal hazard mitigation grants as a contractor. I led a large team to complete approximately 300 Benefit Cost Analyses for Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Georgia Emergency Management […]
  • Rosemarie Fusco, PhD 2025 - I am a planning expert focused on coastal areas, ports, and harbors. I have strong data analysis, research design, evaluation, and workshop facilitation skills. I enjoy collaborating with various stakeholders, including city and town councils, land use attorneys, private sector clients, and federal agencies. As an AICP Planner, I am a member of the APA […]
  • LCDR David Bourbeau (USCG), MMA 2023 - Degree program: M.M.A. Year accepted: 2022 Research: Marine Transportation System (MTS), Marine Spatial Planning, USCG Waterways Management Background: B.S. Business Administration, URI
  • Sam Adams, PhD 2026 - Samuel W. Adams research addressed the vulnerability of coastal communities as a function of critical infrastructure dependencies and the cascading consequences of storm hazards. He has a master’s degree in public administration from American Public University and a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation from Roger Williams University. He also serves as the University’s full-time Emergency […]
  • Kyle McElroy, PhD (2024) - Background: University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, 2009 European Joint program (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Polytechnic University of Catalunya, City, University of London) Master’s in Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management, 2016 While I joined the URI Marine Affairs department in the Fall of 2020, my background is formally in coastal […]
  • David Ostwind, PhD 2025 - The Federal Emergency Management Agency appointed David as a Senior Executive serving as the Director of the Planning and Exercises Division within the Response Directorate. The Planning and Exercises Division leads national and regional response planning initiatives such as the National Hurricane Program, conducts FEMA exercises to test and validate concepts of operations, and provides […]
  • Benjamin Sweeney, MAMA 2019 - Ben joined the Marine Affairs department in 2017 and researched how port and marine infrastructure engineers are incorporating sea level change (SLC) into the design of piers, terminals, wharves, and other marine civil works. He is primarily interested in how regional uncertainty of SLC, differing guidelines and recommendations for managing SLC, and the long working […]
  • Alanna Casey, PhD 2018 - Alanna Casey is a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Affairs. She is also a Masters candidate in the History Department, specialization in Underwater Archaeology and Anthropology.
  • Peter Stempel, PhD 2019 - Peter Stempel specializes in designing architecture and landscapes that function in harmony with natural systems.
  • Duncan McIntosh, PhD 2019 - As the Senior Regional Maritime Specialist at ADB, Dr. Robert Duncan McIntosh designs regional strategies for ports connectivity, maritime trade efficiency, green ports, and maritime decarbonization in the Asia-Pacific region.