Hodde, who is not only a student at UH-Clear Lake, but also research assistant in the School of Business Environmental Management program, was one of two candidates selected by the Texas Sea Grant College Program as a finalist for the prestigious 2012 Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships.

 

“I hope that my participation in the Knauss Fellowship will expand my opportunities and knowledge of the many possible ways I can progress in this field,” Hodde says. “I was raised on the coast, and feel passionate towards all coastal activities. Therefore, one goal I have is to always incorporate this passion into my work.”

 

This fall, Hodde will travel to Washington, D.C. to interview with host representatives in the Executive branch of the federal government before formal acceptance as a Knauss Fellow. Next year, he will spend one year in the capital, learning about marine policy issues through his work with his host representative.

 

Established in 1979, the fellowship provides a unique educational experience to students who have an interest in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. The program is named in honor of one of Sea Grant's founders, former NOAA Administrator, John A. Knauss.

 

While at UH-Clear Lake, Hodde conducted research centered on Coastal Community Resilience and Sustainability and worked as a research assistant at the university’s Environmental Institute of Houston, where he participated in national and regional environmental research projects and learned the intricacies of sampling, data collection and laboratory work.

 

He was also elected as the university’s Student Government Association President during the 2011-12 academic year, where he founded the student Sustainability Club, which works to promote sustainable practices to the university and wider community. Those positions provided him valuable insight towards consensus building and stakeholder engagement, which he deems important to community resilience and sustainability.

 

“Acceptance into the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship Program can help me fulfill my educational goals, since Sea Grant professionals are ‘charged with providing balanced and reliable science-based information’ and ‘delivering solutions coastal residents can use’,” says Hodde “I have been fortunate to learn about and conduct research into community resilience at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and the Knauss Fellowship Program is an opportunity to take knowledge and skills to the next level.”      

 

For more information about National Sea Grant College Program Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, visit http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/knauss/index.html.   ;

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