Brooke Carney serves as the associate director of research, providing strategic leadership and coordination for the program’s research portfolio. She oversees the administration of competitive research funding, supports collaboration among researchers and partners, and helps ensure research investments support science-based solutions that benefit Georgia’s coastal communities and ecosystems.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Carney fell in love with the coast of Georgia while earning her biology degree at Georgia Southern University. She also has master’s degrees in public administration from Georgia Southern University and biology from University of Alaska Anchorage.

She has spent her career working in the boundary space between coastal science and management, policy, education, and communications, connecting people to useful and relevant scientific information. She has worked for local, state, and federal agencies as well as universities. Now back in her home state, she is applying her diverse experiences and expertise to advancing the mission and reach of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant.