MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Metcalf 561-297-3022, lmetcalf@fau.edu
FAU EXPERTS FOR 2011 HURRICANE SEASON BOCA RATON, FL (June 1, 2011) – With hurricane season approaching, several Florida Atlantic University faculty members are available to discuss issues surrounding hurricane preparation and awareness, including: College of Engineering and Computer Science • Howard Hanson, Ph.D., is the scientific director for the Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC) and a professor of geosciences in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Hanson also is a notable meteorologist who has conducted extensive research on atmosphereocean interaction, with emphasis on the behavior of low clouds in the marine boundary layer and their role in climate. He can be reached at 561-297-2460 (office) or hphanson@fau.edu. • P.D. Scarlatos, Ph.D., is a professor and chair of the civil, environmental and geomatics engineering department. He specializes in water resources and environmental engineering with particular expertise in wave mechanics, coastal erosion and hurricane flooding. He can be reached at 561-297-0466 (office) or pscarlat@fau.edu. • D.V. Reddy, Ph.D., is a civil engineering professor who specializes in structural and geo-technical engineering. He can provide tips for minimizing the damage associated with hurricanes to marine structures, such as bridges and coastal protection systems. Reddy can be reached at 561-297-3443 (office), 561-495-0545 (home) or dreddy@fau.edu. Charles E. Schmidt College of Science • Leonard Berry, Ph.D., is the director of the Florida Center for Environmental Studies. He specializes in water management, flooding and general environmental issues specific to South Florida and the tropics. Berry can be reached at 561-799-8544 (office) or berry@fau.edu. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute • Edward Proffitt, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the department of biological sciences in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. He can provide information on hurricane disturbance effects and recovery of mangroves, salt marshes, sea grasses, soft corals and invertebrate populations. Proffitt can be reached at 772-242-2207 (office) or cproffit@fau.edu. • Donna Devlin is an assistant research professor in biology. She can provide insight into effects and recovery of mangroves and associated invertebrate fauna, as well as changes in the parasite – mangrove relationships following disturbance or stress. Devlin can be reached at 772-242-2206 (office) or ddevlin@fau.edu. College for Design and Social Inquiry
• Anthony Abbate is a professor of architecture specializing in hurricane safety and preparations in FAU’s School of Architecture. He can be reached at 954-762-5636 (office) or aabbate@fau.edu. • Ann-Margaret Esnard, Ph.D., is a professor and director of the visual planning technology lab, and specializes in extensive studies on disaster recovery. She can be reached at 954-762-5646 (office) or at aesnard@fau.edu. • Deirdre Hardy is a professor and the director of FAU’s School of Architecture. She is an expert in safety assessment after a disaster as certified by the California Emergency Management Agency in conjunction with The Florida Association of Architects. She can be reached at 954-762-5654 (office) or at dhardy@fau.edu. • Alka Sapat, Ph.D., is an associate professor of public administration, and specializes in pre-and postdisaster policy analysis, as well as in vulnerability and resilience policy evaluation and design. She can be reached at 561-297-0443 (office) or at asapat@fau.edu.
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing • Kathleen Valentine, Ph.D., is the director for the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center, co-director of the FAU Diabetes Center sponsored by Palm Healthcare Foundation, and is a clinical associate professor of nursing at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. Valentine is available to provide information on hurricane preparedness for the elderly, the chronically ill, as well as caregivers. She can be reached at 561-297-0502 (office) or kvalent7@fau.edu. For more information on FAU’s faculty experts, contact Lisa Metcalf, FAU’s associate director of media relations, at 561-297-3022. -FAUAbout Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. In commemoration of its origin, FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011. Today, the University serves more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses and sites. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.