Extension Staff


Peter M. Rowe Ph.D. (732) 872-1300, ext. 31	Dr. Peter M. Rowe is Director, New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program and Associate Director, New Jersey Sea Grant College Program. Dr. Rowe joined NJSGEP in 2004 with over twenty years of experience in research, teaching and K-12 outreach. Dr. Rowe’s primary academic interests are in larval ecology and fisheries oceanography. In particular he has conducted research on the interaction of biological and physical processes affecting larval transport and on the determination of essential fish habitat of marine recreational and commercial finfish and shellfish in estuarine and coastal waters of New Jersey and Delaware. He has presented his research at numerous regional, national and international scientific meetings and authored more than a dozen journal articles, abstracts and reports. He is a member of American Fisheries Society, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and Estuarine Research Federation. Dr. Rowe graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry from Gettysburg College and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received a Master’s degree in Marine Studies and a Doctorate in Oceanography from the University of Delaware.
Amy Boyajian (732) 932-9800, ext. 6164	Amy Boyajian is a Program Associate in Water Resources for Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Water Resources Agent for the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. Amy received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University in 2007. She is continuing her education as a Graduate Student at Rutgers University on a part-time basis. As a Water Resources Agent, Amy helps promote a greater understanding of water resources and the impact of its use on coastal marine ecosystems in order to facilitate more informed decision making and long term sustainability. Some of her current activities include developing programs for the Water Resources for Sustainable Communities Initiative, which assists municipalities in addressing environmental issues and conducting outreach and education programs for citizens as part of the Stormwater Management in Your Backyard initiative, which provides information about stormwater management solutions for homeowners.

Michael J. Danko (732) 872-1300, ext. 29	Michael J. Danko is the Marine Recreation Agent - Fisheries & Boating for the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Biology from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 1993 and has been employed with the NJMSC/NJSG since 1993. Michael has participated in numerous coastal zone management, fishery, sediment, water quality and bathymetry projects. He has served as the New Jersey project manager of a 5-year, multi-million dollar National Coastal Assessment project which will provide a picture of the condition of our coastal waters and additional tools for use in ecosystem monitoring. Mike was instrumental with the design and implementation of the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Program Plan, which included educational materials for recreational boaters on the environmental impacts of boating. He currently serves as chair of the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee. For information on Mike's projects please visit Current Activities of the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program.

Jenny McCormick (732) 872-1300, ext. 24	Jenny McCormick is the Coastal Communities Agent for the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. She has been working at the NJMSC/NJSG since graduation in 2001 from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science with a Minor in Writing and a Master of Science degree in Professional and Technical Communications from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Jenny has been involved with several ecotourism projects that promote the wise management and sustainable development of New Jersey’s coastal communities including working with both the Belmar and Bradley Beach Environmental Commissions to develop interpretive educational signs for beachgoers. She is currently coordinating the development of a Traveler’s Guide to New Jersey Coastal & Maritime Heritage which will feature historic coastal towns and ports, early cultures, lighthouses, port commerce, fishing, coastal defense and other maritime related topics and points of interest. Jenny was honored in 2003 with an APEX Grand Award for Publication Excellence for her participation in creating Catch and Release: A Guide to Ethical Angling, an educational outreach tool distributed to recreational anglers. In 2004 she received another APEX Award for her contribution to NJ’s Strange and Ugly Fishes poster project.

Dr. Jon Miller (201) 216-8591	Dr. Jon Miller is a research assistant professor of coastal and ocean engineering at the Davidson Laboratory of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken and a Coastal Processes Specialist for the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. As a Coastal Processes Specialist, Dr. Miller helps promote a greater understanding of our coastal resources which helps facilitate more informed decision making and long term sustainability. He is currently a member of the New Jersey Coastal Protection Technical Assistance Service, formed in 1993, charged with providing scientific expertise to the State of New Jersey regarding all coastal issues. His teaching and research interests include nearshore hydrodynamics, coastal processes, and shoreline responses to extreme events, such as hurricanes and nor′easters. Dr. Miller received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Florida in Coastal Engineering. During his academic career, Dr. Miller has been recognized as both a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow (2001-2004) and 2004 Fulbright Post-graduate Fellow (Australia).

Jessica Staats (732) 872-1300, ext. 20	Jessica Staats is the Assistant Marine Recreation Agent for the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. Jessica began working for the NJMSC/NJSG April 2002 as a part-time instructor of K-12 programs. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 2006. Jessica is currently involved with the New Jersey Clean Marina Program, Shrink Wrap Recycling Program, and the Stormwater Management Program. Her job includes producing fact sheets, posters, newsletters and other informational resource materials that help educate marina owners, boaters and the general public about ecological concerns and new marine and coastal-related laws and regulations. Jessica is also the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the NJMSC/NJSGEP. Her duties there include coordinating marine science summer camp, boy and girl scout programs, Families Investigate Science Hands-On (FISH) and All Hands On Deck: A Harbor Education Program (AHOD).

Jillian Thompson (732) 932-9800 ext. 6166	Jillian Thompson is a Program Associate for Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program and Water Resources Agent for the New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program. Jillian received a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in Bioenvironmental Engineering in May 2008. Her current research focuses on watershed restoration and management and stormwater best management practices. Jillian plans on earning her M.S. degree as a part-time graduate student at Rutgers. As a Water Resources Agent, Jillian helps to foster an understanding of human impact on water resources and marine coastal ecosystems. Some of her current activities include assisting with education and outreach programs through the Stormwater Management in Your Backyard Initiative, and research and design work for management plans for watersheds in New Jersey