Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant welcomes Stuart Carlton as the program’s new director

Posted June 17th, 2025 in Featured, News, Program
A headshot photo of Stuart Carlton

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) announces that Stuart Carlton will be the program’s new director as of July 14, 2025. He will replace Tomas Höök who will become the head of Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Höök has been with IISG for 14 years, seven of those serving as director.

Carlton has been IISG’s assistant director since 2018—as part of this role, he has provided guidance and support for program personnel and projects as well as led overall coordination and day-to-day management. Before coming to IISG, he spent four years as a healthy coastal ecosystems and social science specialist at Texas Sea Grant and three years as a communications program assistant at Florida Sea Grant.

Carlton is a natural resources social scientist who holds a PhD in interdisciplinary ecology from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in fisheries biology from the University of Georgia. In addition to his role with IISG, he is also a research assistant professor and head of the Coastal and Great Lakes Social Science Lab at Purdue, where he and his students research the relationship between knowledge, values, trust, and behavior in complex or controversial environmental systems.

“I am thrilled to see Dr. Carlton named as the new IISG director,” said Zhao Ma, interim head of Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. “Having known him for many years, I am confident that he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from his work across various aspects of the Sea Grant program. Combine all that with his scholarly expertise as a natural resource social scientist, exceptional communication skills, and—most importantly—his infectious positive energy and remarkable ability to connect with others, I know he will lead IISG into a bright and impactful future.”

As assistant director with IISG, Carlton has helped expand its aquaculture program as well as provided guidance in social science efforts in many topic areas. He is the creator and host of Teach Me About the Great Lakes, a podcast in which he learns more about Great Lakes issues by talking with experts and others, bringing the rest of us along on his educational journey.

His research and outreach interests are in the role of stakeholder values, attitudes, and behaviors in controversial environmental systems. Carlton has worked on a variety of issues, ranging from red snapper management to state service foresters’ use of climate information. His research on climate change beliefs has been cited on the Senate floor, covered by national and international media—including The Guardian and The Washington Post—and has been featured as the top post on the front page of Reddit.

IISG Instagram

Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.

Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17847944430638356
Join is in welcoming our new research and reporting coordinator, Laura Esman, to the team! In her new role, Laura will oversee research competitions and manage IISG’s research portfolio. She will also spearhead IISG data collection and lead the program’s annual reporting process.Esman brings over 30 years of experience in research, project coordination and grant administration. Her most recent positions include managing director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, and lab manager and research associate in the Natural Resources Social Science Lab in Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.Full story at the link in bio.

There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!

Learn more & register at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 18063625076281979
There’s still time to register! Educators are invited to join the Great Lakes Region Place-Based Education Institute starting this February and dive into hands-on strategies that connect students with their communities and local environments. Don’t miss this powerful professional learning opportunity!Learn more & register at the link in bio.

🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists!
We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.

They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.

Full story at the link in bio.

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Open post by ilinseagrant with ID 17925527007208099
🎉 Congratulations to our IISG Knauss Fellowship finalists! We’re proud to announce Anupama Chandroth (@iubloomington) and Laura Gray (@illinois1867) as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s finalists for the 2026 Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship.They’ll join a national cohort of 48 finalists placed in executive and legislative branch offices in Washington, D.C., contributing scientific expertise to federal decision-making on marine, coastal, and Great Lakes issues.Full story at the link in bio.