PORT TOWNSEND — Jean Walat has been named the new program director for the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
Volunteer/citizen science coordinator for the center since 2005, Walat fills a post that was vacated by Lee Whitford.
The program director oversees education programming; both the marine and natural history exhibits; and the citizen science and volunteer programs. Duties also include participating in the organization’s strategic direction.
“Jean has been instrumental to the success of our organization for the past seven years,” said Anne Murphy, executive director.
“It was a natural progression for her to move into the position of program director. I’m so pleased to be working with her in this capacity.”
Walat earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in environmental science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J.
When she moved to Port Townsend from New Jersey in 2000, she worked as a Port Townsend city planner.
Before that, she worked as the education director for the Bayshore Discovery Project, a schooner-based environmental education program on New Jersey’s Delaware Bayshore, and as a developer and manager of online bioscience databases at BioScience Information Services, the publisher of Biological Abstracts.
“I feel honored to have an expanded role with the PTMSC,” Walat said. “The programs we provide are important to our community, our environment and our future.
“I’m looking forward to developing more in-depth opportunities for adults and youth, and helping the organization thrive.”
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center, located on the beach at Fort Worden State Park, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
For more information, phone 360-385-5582, email info@ptmsc.org or visit www.ptmsc.org.
