Allison Beauregard, Ph.D.
Environmental Institute
Dr. Allison Beauregard serves as the Mattie M. Kelly Distinguished Teaching Chair in Environmental Sciences at Northwest Florida State College, a position funded as part of the Northwest Florida State College Mattie M. Kelly Cultural and Environmental Institute through the Northwest Florida State College Foundation.
Beauregard holds a doctorate degree in Oceanography from the University of Delaware College of Marine Studies with a specialty in chemical oceanography. Her extensive estuarine and coastal research experience includes river, bay, and coastal water quality sampling and analysis; participation in sixteen research cruises to monitor the health of Delaware Estuary and collect oceanographic data in Narragansett Bay; and coordination of scientific endeavors at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Studies (formerly the Bermuda Biological Station of Research).
Beauregard has been an Assistant Professor of Earth Science at Northwest Florida State College since 2006, teaching courses in Oceanography and Natural Disasters. She previously taught courses such as Chemical Oceanographyand Global Biogeochemical Cycles at the University of West Florida and the University of Delaware. Her published work has appeared in scientific journals such as Estuaries and Coasts, and Marine Chemistry and she has presented at international conferences such as the International Coral Reef Symposium in Okinawa, Japan.
Dr. Bob Richburg, Northwest Florida State College President, notes that Beauregard’s expertise is well suited for study of the Choctawhatchee River and Bay environment and for carrying out the educational goals of the college’s Mattie Kelly Cultural and Environmental Institute. “Focus on the long term health of the Choctaw Bay is essential in our local community,” noted Richburg. “The new Mattie Kelly Teaching Chair in Environmental Sciences is a multi-faceted position. Dr. Beauregard will lead college-level instruction in environmental studies, work closely in research with the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, an environmental organization operated under the auspices of the college, and work with the public and students in environmental education.”
“One of the most important, but often overlooked, parts of our jobs as scientists is to educate the public. This is particularly true of environmental scientists, so that we instill the value of being stewards of the local environment,” said Beauregard.
Among the goals for the coming year for the Northwest Florida State College Mattie Kelly Cultural and Environmental Institute include establishing an annual Mattie Kelly Symposium on Choctawhatchee Bay. The symposium, tentatively planned for June 1 & 2, 2008 will be a one-day scientific and public event. Beauregard is already involved with collaborative projects with the Choctaw Basin Alliance and incorporating college undergraduate students in research endeavors. She noted that she also plans to develop training workshops for area high school teachers with an emphasis on incorporating the local environment into the classroom, facilitating hands-on science, and more.