Ocean Springs, MS — Dr. Barry Costa-Pierce, Director of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, today announced that Dr. LaDon Swann has been named the new Associate Director of Alabama Programs for the Consortium. Swann will take the helm of the newly created Office of Alabama Programs beginning May 15. His office will be located at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, home of Alabama's Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.
"Dr. Swann will give the Consortium an administrative presence in Alabama that we have never had before," says Costa-Pierce. "With LaDon's expertise the Consortium will be able to identify the programmatic needs in Alabama and work on creating ways to fill those needs by initiating new research, education, and outreach programs for the Alabama coast."
The 40-year-old Tennessee native brings with him 16 years of extension, teaching, and research experience in aquaculture and fisheries management. Previously, Swann held the position of Aquaculture Extension Specialist for the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program at Purdue University where he earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. His accomplishments include creating and managing a variety of web sites including the award-winning Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC); holding positions as president of the Indiana Aquaculture Association and board member of the Illinois Aquaculture Industry Association; and publishing more than 40 scientific papers, videos, and CD-ROMs.
In addition to his work for Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Swann will hold the position of Assistant Professor of Research at Auburn University. He will oversee the construction of a new hatchery and lab building being built at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab for Auburn, and will conduct future oyster research for the university.