People

- About
- With 500+ faculty, staff and students and three campus locations, the Batten School & VIMS are equipped to tackle pressing challenges through research, education and advisory service.
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- Research & Advisory
- Purple marsh crabs are significantly disrupting carbon cycling in salt marshes along the East Coast of the U.S., according to a study led by Batten School & VIMS scientists.
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- Batten School
- The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program will provide full tuition support for students pursuing the new bachelor’s degree in coastal & marine sciences at the Batten School & VIMS.
  
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- Engage
- Popular, free camps enable rising third through eighth graders to learn about the Chesapeake Bay, coastal ecosystems and environmental stewardship.
  
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- News & Events
- National TRAP Program funds large-scale cleanup of discarded fishing gear, first round of subawards totaling more than $1.4M supports 11 projects focused on removing derelict fishing gear from coastal waters in nine U.S. states and Palau.
  
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- Giving
- As an expression of parental pride in their daughter, Taylor Spencer ‘83 and Martha Spencer recently established an undergraduate field research endowment at the Batten School & VIMS.
  
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People

Graves, John E.
Chancellor Professor
Retired: 2022
Department: Fisheries Science
Email: graves@vims.edu
Phone: (804) 684-7352
Interests: Molecular evolution in marine environments; molecular technology to study population dynamics- billfish and tuna.
Office: Chesapeake Bay Hall N207

McDowell, Jan
Research Associate Professor
Email: mcdowell@vims.edu
Phone: (804) 684-7263
Office: Chesapeake Bay Hall N209
Section: Natural Resources

Biesack, Ellen E.
Lab and Research Specialist, Senior
Email: eebiesack@vims.edu
Phone: (804) 684-7799
Office: Chesapeake Bay Hall 228
Section: Natural Resources
Research Interests: population genetics, fisheries, aquaculture