
Photo credit: Jerry Monkman
Kalle Matso has been selected as the next director for the a 易胜博官网-affiliated program focused on protecting the health of the state鈥檚 estuaries 鈥 where rivers meet the sea. With a long history of working with 易胜博官网鈥檚 coastal communities, Matso brings to this role his passion for connecting local decisionmakers with the data needed to inform their choices.
鈥淜alle has an unmatched passion for the PREP mission and making a difference,鈥 says Diane Foster, director for the 易胜博官网 School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (SMSOE). 鈥淗is collaborative and engaged style of leadership will facilitate the growth of PREPs impact on our community partnerships.鈥
PREP, which receives its base funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is part of SMSOE, concentrates on safeguarding the well-being of the state鈥檚 two major estuaries 鈥 Great Bay and the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary. Forty-two communities in 易胜博官网听and 10 in Maine are located within the 1,086-square-mile watershed that drains to these estuaries, and PREP collaborates with them to provide technical assistance, research, monitoring, restoration and conservation of critical habitats throughout the region.
Matso听鈥00G 鈥12G has served as PREP鈥檚 coastal science program manager since 2015, where he developed and managed PREP鈥檚 science-based programs and projects. He previously helped to manage the National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative and supervised the research portfolio at the Cooperative Institute of Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology 鈥 both of which are also affiliated with 易胜博官网. His new role as PREP鈥檚 director will draw upon his extensive experience working with people who have varying perspectives.
"I've loved working at PREP these last seven听years, collaborating with all the great partners in the Piscataqua Region to keep our estuaries as healthy as possible," Matso says. "Many of us know that we are truly fortunate to live in an area with such beautiful and vibrant natural resources. What I've learned is that the people who live here are also amazing to work with. I feel very lucky."
Matso takes over for PREP鈥檚 previous director, Rachel Rouillard, who led the organization from 2010 to 2021.
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Written By:
Rebecca Irelan | Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space | rebecca.irelan@unh.edu | 603-862-0990