People Directory

Staff Members

John A. Downing

John Downing headshot
Director
Hybrid work schedule.
downing@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-8715

Minnesota Sea Grant
141 Chester Park
31 West College Street
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

John Bilotta

John Bilotta headshot
Water Resource Management and Policy Extension Educator
Hybrid work schedule.
jbilotta@umn.edu
(612) 624-7708

173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Jessy Carlson

Jessy Carlson headshot
Resilience Extension Associate
Teleworking.
carl4720@d.umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Cait Dettmann

Cait Dettmann
Graphic and Visual Design Associate
Hybrid work schedule.
cdettman@d.umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Heidi Ferris

Heidi Ferris smiles at the camera wearing warm layers with bare trees in the background.
Environmental Literacy & Workforce Development Extension Educator
October 28, 2024 to present
Hybrid work schedule.
hferris@umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Alexander Frie

Alex Frie headshot
Research and Fellowship Coordinator
Hybrid work schedule.
frie0388@umn.edu
(218) 726-8714

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

John (Jack) R. Jones Ph.D.

John R. (Jack) Jones
Adjunct Extension Professor
Teleworking.
jonesjr@umn.edu

Maggie Karschnia

Maggie Karschnia
Minnesota Sea Grant & Water Resources Center Stormwater Extension Educator
Hybrid work schedule.
maggiek@umn.edu
(612) 624-9181

173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Kelsey Prihoda

Kelsey Prihoda headshot
Sea Grant Great Lakes Transportation Extension Educator
Hybrid work schedule.
priho011@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-6195

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Jane Reed

Jane Reed Headshot
Web Developer
Hybrid work schedule.
jmreed@d.umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
149 Chester Park
31 West College Street
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Madison Rodman

Madison Rodman headshot
Resilience Extension Educator
Hybrid work schedule.
mrodman@umn.edu
(218) 726-8536

Minnesota Sea Grant
131 Chester Park
31 West College Street
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Amy Schrank

Amy Schrank headshot
Extension Program Leader (2023); Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator
Hybrid work schedule.
aschrank@umn.edu
(612) 301-1526

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Don Schreiner

Don Schreiner headshot
Fisheries Specialist
2014-present
Hybrid work schedule.
schr0941@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-7375

Minnesota Sea Grant
138 Chester Park
31 West College Street
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Amanda Shie

Amanda Shie headshot
Communications Associate
Hybrid work schedule.
shie0093@umn.edu
(218) 726-7672

Minnesota Sea Grant
149 Chester Park
31 West College Street
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Kieran Smith

Minnesota Sea Grant Aquaculture Extension Associate Kieran Smith
Aquaculture Extension Associate
Hybrid work schedule.
smit2013@umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Hilarie Sorensen

Hilarie Sorensen headshot
Water Resources Extension Educator
Hybrid work schedule.
soren360@d.umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Fred Sproat

Fred Sproat Headshot
Executive Office Administrative Specialist
Hybrid work schedule.
spro0036@d.umn.edu
218-726-8107

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Marie Thoms

Marie Thoms headshot
Communications Director
Hybrid work schedule.
methoms@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-8710

Minnesota Sea Grant
149 Chester Park
31 West College Street
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Impermanent employees

Madison Bell

Yellow Perch Technician
mbell5@macalester.edu
(218) 370-8475

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Kathy Biernat

Kathy Biernat smiles in front of water in the background.
Education Specialist
7/8/24 - 12/31/24
Teleworking until further notice
kbiernat@d.umn.edu

Jessica Coburn

Yellow Perch Technician
coburn017@umn.edu
(218) 370-8475

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Daniel McCann

Fisheries Research Technician
mccan344@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-8106

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Noah Thelen

Yellow Perch Lab Technician
thele222@umn.edu
(218) 726-8106

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Student interns

John Emmer

Minnesota Sea Grant Student Worker John Emmer posing next to a cactus in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.
Front Office Specialist
emmer110@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-8106

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Emily Gillette

Cattail Technician
gille582@umn.edu
(218) 370-8475

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Abby Haugen

Front Office Specialist
Hauge911@d.umn.edu
(218) 726-8106

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States

Ryder McClure

Cattail Technician
mcclu350@d.umn.edu
(218) 370-8475

Minnesota Sea Grant
173 McNeal Hall
1985 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Knauss Fellows

Erik Simula

2024 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow

Gurparteet Singh

2024 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow

Research fellows

Claire Rude

Claire Rude smiling against a brick wall background.
Research Fellow
rudex109@umn.edu

135 Skok Hall
2003 Upper Buford Circle
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Postdoctoral fellows

Joe Rabaey

Joeseph Rabaey
Postdoctoral Fellow
5/24/2023 - 5/24/2025
Western and southwestern Minnesota
rabae005@umn.edu

Graduate Research Assistants

Samantha McClung

Samantha McClung
Graduate Research Assistant
05/22/2023 - 05/22/2025
Hybrid work schedule.
mcclu348@d.umn.edu

Minnesota Sea Grant
31 W. College St.
Chester Park Building
Duluth, MN 55812
United States