Dr. Steven Lohrenz, dean of the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, was elected last week by his peers to a national ocean science leadership position.

As one of just 14 members of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership’s Board of Trustees, Lohrenz will take a lead role in bringing together public and private partners and the scientific community to shape national and international oceans policy.

Ocean Leadership is a nonprofit organization that represents 103 of the leading public and private ocean research education institutions, aquaria and industry with the mission to advance research, education and sound ocean policy. Representatives of those 103 institutions vote for members of the Board of Trustees.

“I’m grateful to my colleagues across the country for making me a Trustee,” said Lohrenz. “I’m looking forward to working with them to effectively communicate the central role of our oceans in societal well-being, and to advocate for continued support to improve our understanding of the oceans.”

Also voted to the board were representatives from the University of New Hampshire, the University of Maryland, and Stanford University.