Mona Behl was appointed the associate director of Georgia Sea Grant in 2015. In this role, she provides administrative and financial leadership to Marine Extension Georgia Sea Grant by directing the unit’s research and fellowship portfolios, building partnerships, and ensuring the quality, relevance, and impact of the unit’s activities in Georgia. Behl also holds public service and academic appointments at UGA, and is a Non-Residential Fellow with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Policy Program. Her applied research, education, and extension projects focus on building the adaptive capacity of local communities to impacts of extreme weather and climate change, and broadening participation in science.

Behl is passionate about improving access, engagement, and leadership development of women and minorities in science. She serves on the leadership board of Earth Science Women’s Network, is a member of the AMS Culture and Inclusion Cabinet, and co-chairs the Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to Increase Retention program. Behl is the founding member of AMS Early Career Leadership Academy, and Sea Grant’s Community Engaged Internship program. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics from Panjab University in India, and a doctorate in physical oceanography from Florida State University.