Monmouth University Associate Professor Megan Delaney, Ph.D., LPC, has joined the Urban Coast Institute (UCI) as its ecopsychologist in residence. In this first-of-its-kind role, Delaney will deliver “Restore at the Shore” programming designed to help students reduce stress and revive their attention and energy for classwork through direct engagement with nature, including ocean and coastal environments.

Delaney, of the Department of Psychology, has created courses at Monmouth and conducted research with UCI grant support on ecotherapy, which focuses on contact with the natural world as a method or element of counseling. According to Delaney, studies have indicated that regular exposure to the environment can reduce stress, obesity, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, childhood anxiety, and carry other mental and physical health benefits. Monmouth is one of the few universities in the U.S. to offer an ecotherapy specialization, which Delaney designed and oversees.

“I created the specialty in the graduate professional counseling program because I am an ecotherapist in my private practice. I see my clients all in natural spaces and do a lot of work on their connection with the natural world and how that impacts their mental health, but also how that can help them heal, and how nature is a co-therapist in the whole process,” Delaney said. “The UCI has been unbelievably supportive all these years in my research, looking both at the outcomes of ecotherapy with clients and students’ experiences in it.”

The residency seeks to present students practical tools for stress relief, concentration restoration, and mental renewal through encounters with water and green spaces. In the near term, Delaney will meet with student clubs with science and nature focuses to offer lessons on ways students can utilize the campus and natural spaces at the shore to reinvigorate themselves when they’re feeling stressed. She said this is especially important for students whose work regularly confronts them with ecological problems that can weight them down emotionally.

“People very much resonate with their connection to the natural world, or where they feel peace, or where they feel calm, and also where they feel sadness,” Delaney said. “I want to have conversations with as many people as I can that help them identify those feelings and have a plan to cope with them.”

In the coming semester, she hopes to organize activities such as nature study breaks, goat yoga, paddleboarding trips, campfires, beach meditation and guided shoreline walks. Delaney will be assisted in organizing the programming by Ian Bley, Sean McCann, and Haley Roberts, all graduate students in the Professional Mental Health Counseling Program.

Delaney is the author of “Nature is nurture: Counseling and the natural world,” which combines research and practical application for mental health professionals to infuse nature as a therapeutic partner. She teaches applied and adventure-based ecopsychology courses at the graduate and undergraduate level. Dr. Delaney has a private ecotherapy practice, Therapy Without Walls, LLC, and has been a featured contributor to Psychology Today. Her research agenda focuses on clinical outcomes in ecotherapy as well as student experiences in nature-based curriculum.

To inquire about collaborating with Dr. Delaney on a Restore at the Shore activity for your club, class or campus activity, email mdelaney@monmouth.edu.

Monmouth University President Patrick Leahy and Matt Harmon welcomed Urban Coast Institute (UCI) Director Tony MacDonald and Associate Director Tom Herrington as guests on the Monmouth Matters podcast on Oct. 21. MacDonald and Herrington shared their thoughts on the UCI’s 20th anniversary, the recent Future of the Ocean Symposium, MacDonald’s forthcoming transition to a new role as a fellow at the UCI, and the ongoing environmental work ahead. Leahy and Harmon also touched on recent campus events, including the career fair and homecoming, within the context of Monmouth’s steady rise in external rankings.

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Wil Burns, Ph.D., co-director of the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University, will deliver the presentation “Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal and its Potential Role in U.S. Climate Policy” on Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. in 201 Edison Hall. The talk is free to attend and light refreshments will be served.

The event is jointly sponsored by the Monmouth University Department of Political Science and Sociology and the Urban Coast Institute (UCI). For questions or more information, contact Rechnitz Family/UCI Endowed Chair in Marine and Environmental Law and Policy Peter Jacques at pjacques@monmouth.edu

Presentation Abstract

In the ensuing years after the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, it has become increasingly apparent that achievement of its temperature objectives will require both aggressive emissions reduction initiatives and large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal/negative emissions technologies to either avoid passing critical climatic thresholds or address temperature “overshoot” scenarios. While much of the early research on carbon dioxide removal methods focused on terrestrial approaches, there has been increasing attention to the potential role of the world’s oceans, given both sustainability considerations and the fact that oceans already serve as a huge carbon sink, with substantial additional potential for storing carbon. These “marine carbon dioxide removal” (mCDR) options include ocean iron fertilization, ocean alkalinity enhancement, ocean upwelling/downwelling, and ocean biomass sinking. This presentation will provide an overview of mCDR approaches and developments in the U.S., including the emerging regulatory framework for deployment of mCDR.

Speaker Bio

Wil Burns, Ph.D., is the co-founding director of the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University, a research center that focuses on social science aspects of carbon dioxide removal, including law and governance, ethics and justice and the role of public engagement and deliberation. Previously, he served as the associate director of the Environmental Policy & Culture program at Northwestern University and the founding director of the Energy Policy & Climate program at Johns Hopkins University. He also taught at the University of Chicago, Stanford University, and the University of California-Berkeley. Prior to entering academia, he served as assistant secretary of state for policy for the state of Wisconsin and worked in the environmental non-profit sector for more than 20 years.

His community service includes having served as co-chair of the International Environmental Law Section of the American Branch of the International Law Association, and president of the Association of Environmental Studies & Sciences (AESS). He was the 2019 recipient of AESS’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Scholarship and Service in the field. He received his Ph.D. in International Law from the University of Wales-Cardiff School of Law and is the author of more than 90 publications.

The Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) turned 20 this year and Tony MacDonald has been its director from the start. Watch above as Tony looks back on some of the UCI achievements he’s most proud of.

You can celebrate this anniversary with the UCI at the 2025 Future of the Ocean Symposium on Thursday in Monmouth’s Great Hall Auditorium. You can also browse these resources to learn more about the UCI’s history:

• The UCI’s retrospective report “Reflections: Two Decades Supporting Stewardship of Coastal Communities and Ocean Resources”
• UCI 20^th anniversary web page
• Tony MacDonald Q&A in Monmouth Magazine

Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) Associate Director Tom Herrington was a panelist on an Oct. 1 online discussion hosted by South Jersey Forward about funding challenges New Jersey faces for its future beach replenishment needs. The panel was moderated by South Jersey Forward founder Michael Suleiman and also included Jersey Shore Partnership Executive Director Grace Hanlon and Stevens Institute of Technology Research Professor Jon Miller. The following is a synopsis of the discussion topic from South Jersey Forward:

For the first time in decades, 2025 saw no federal dollars allocated for beach replenishment. Without these critical funds, South Jersey’s shoreline faces unprecedented risk, especially for the homes, businesses, and ecosystems it protects. Early appropriations for the next fiscal year suggest even deeper cuts ahead.

That’s why we’ve partnered with the Jersey Shore Partnership, the state’s leading authority on coastal restoration, for a virtual roundtable on Wednesday, October 1 to discuss:

• The implications of zero federal funding for beach replenishment
• Economic, environmental, and community impacts of reduced beach replenishment
• Strategies for local and state advocacy to secure future funding

A new wave of marine technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous underwater gliders, environmental DNA, and acoustic telemetry is rapidly changing how we study and what we know about our oceans. On Oct. 9, a panel of leading voices in ocean science and exploration will convene at Monmouth University for a conversation on actions the U.S. must take to harness these innovations to ensure its economic prosperity and national security.

The 2025 Future of the Ocean Symposium will be hosted by the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) from 10-11:45 a.m. at Monmouth’s historic Great Hall. The symposium is free and open to the public and will have a theme of “Exploring the Wine-Dark Sea – U.S. Ocean Science and Technology: Keys to Prosperity and Security.” The event will also commemorate the 20^th anniversary of UCI, which was established in 2005.

Among the panelists will be two UCI 2025 Champion of the Ocean honorees: Caladan Oceanic CEO Victor Vescovo, an entrepreneur and extreme ocean explorer who was the first person to visit the deepest point in all five of the world’s oceans; and ocean mapping pioneer Larry Mayer, who serves as chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and director of the University of New Hampshire Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. The panel will also include VADM (Ret.) Paul Gaffney, Monmouth University president emeritus and former chief of naval research; Deerin Babb-Brott, formerWhite House Office of Science and Technology Policy principal assistant director for oceans and the environment; Paula Bontempi, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography professor and president of the Oceanography Society; and Ocean Power Technologies President and CEO Philipp Stratmann. The panel will be moderated by UCI Director Tony MacDonald.

The transformational promise and potential of these technologies is being realized at a moment when the longstanding model for funding universities to conduct ocean research is being disrupted, and proposed cuts to staff and programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation and other federal agencies is creating additional uncertainty. At the same time, the administration has directed the agencies to “prioritize new and emerging technologies and collaborative approaches to efficiently map, explore, and characterize the resources of the United States exclusive economic zone and sea beds under international waters … [and] focus on increasing their capacity to effectively and efficiently manage large volumes of ocean observation and research data.”

“The uncertainty and seemingly contradictory actions raise many questions of critical importance, including, what will the new normal of ocean science and exploration look like?  What will the roles of government, academia and the private sector be moving forward, and how can rapidly changing technology advance their work?” MacDonald said. “There is little public awareness of the major role the ocean plays in regulating climate, supporting economic development and national security, and it all depends on our ability to observe and understand the ocean environment. Yet federal investment in ocean science remains disproportionately small, accounting for less than 0.2 percent of federal discretionary spending.”

Immediately following the symposium at noon, the UCI will host its Champion of the Ocean Awards Luncheon, also in the Great Hall. This year’s National Champion of the Ocean honorees are Vescovo, Mayer, and Congressman Frank Pallone. Tickets are required to attend the reception, with proceeds supporting the UCI.

The awards were established in 2005 to honor individuals who have undertaken actions and demonstrated sustained leadership that ensures coasts and oceans are clean, safe, sustainably managed, and preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. Previous honorees include ocean explorer Robert Ballard, marine biologist and explorer Sylvia Earle, ocean scientist and advocate Jean-Michael Cousteau, and former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

This event is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Leslie Hitchner Family. For more information, email uci@monmouth.edu or visit the event website.

After two decades as director of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI), Tony MacDonald will step down on Nov. 1 and transition to a new role as a senior ocean policy fellow. UCI Associate Director Tom Herrington will serve as acting director while the University commences a national search for MacDonald’s replacement.

When the UCI was launched in 2005, MacDonald was hired as its inaugural director. At the time, the University sought to take advantage of the opportunity presented by Monmouth’s location just one mile from the ocean, establishing a degree in marine and environmental biology and policy and recognizing the potential for a new policy research center focused on interactions between humans and the coastal and ocean environment. The UCI has since grown into a national leader in areas including marine science and policy, ocean planning, and coastal resilience, and is well positioned to continue that work.

A native of New Jersey who spent summers in Avon-by-the-Sea, MacDonald returned to the Jersey Shore to launch the UCI after over three decades as a marine and environmental policy attorney in Washington. D.C., and New York City. In his new role, MacDonald will continue his ocean policy work while providing advice and support to UCI and the University.

MacDonald expanded what started as an organization with two employees into a team of a dozen dedicated professionals with expertise in marine science and policy areas, while expanding external collaboration and partnerships. The UCI has attracted extensive donor support and millions of dollars in research funding to Monmouth for projects that have made important impacts on coastal communities and provided opportunities for students to gather real-world field experience. Some of the initiatives started by MacDonald that will live on and sustain the UCI’s core work and mission include:

• The annual Future of the Ocean Symposium and Champion of the OceanAwards, that brings national and international leaders to campus.
• The Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe Scholars Program and other UCI funding streams that have provided 50 faculty enrichment grants and supported over 300 student research positions and 100 projects, helping launch careers and inspire the next generation of ocean leaders.
• The transfer, refurbishment and naming of the R/V Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, which provides an essential platform to support student and faculty research
• Development of the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal, a free and publicly accessible GIS platform containing over 6,000 maps depicting ocean uses and natural features at sea.
• Four UCI endowed student scholarships, including the MacDonald Family UCI Endowed Scholarship.

You can celebrate the UCI’s 20^th anniversary and assure its continued growth by making an online contribution and joining us at the Future of the Ocean Symposium and Champion of the Ocean Awards Luncheon, which will be held at Monmouth University’s Great Hall on Oct. 9.

The U.S. Navy and the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) have extended a cooperative agreement with Naval Weapons Station Earle to conduct applied research aimed at strengthening resilience to severe storms and weather events through 2029. The modification includes $4.2 million in new funding to continue work started in 2022 at the installation and nearby communities through the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.

Approximately $3 million of the funding will cover the construction of living shoreline along the Raritan Bayshore in the Cliffwood Beach section Aberdeen Township. The project aims to replenish the beach, restore upland maritime forest features and dunes, and install oyster castles that will help slow erosion by blunting the force of waves while restoring the ecosystem. The UCI will manage the project and monitor the impacts of the improvements.

“The beachfront in the Veterans Memorial Park area has been eroding for some time now, to the point where even a slight increase in the tide can flood Ocean Boulevard/Lakeshore Drive,” said UCI Associate Director Tom Herrington. “This project will help ensure the roadway remains open as an evacuation route during storms, and restores a public beach that is the center promenade for the town’s bayfront.”

In addition, funding will be provided for the UCI to continue its work developing and monitoring the oyster reef at Earle and make living shoreline improvements in the salt marsh area of Ware Creek, which flows through the property to the bay. Steps would be taken to improve stormwater drainage and tidal flow and restore native marsh plants with the goals of increasing resistance to storm surges, improving water quality, and providing habitat.

The agreement also provides funding to continue design work for a living shoreline project at Sylvan Lake, which forms the border between Bradley Beach and Avon-by-the-Sea. This phase would focus on dredging areas of the lake and reusing the sediments to form a more natural perimeter at sections of the lake’s north side that currently have concrete walls and bulkheading. 

The Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute (UCI) is seeking volunteers for a community science project that aims to learn more about the marine organisms living along our coast through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. Participation is easy, requires no training, and only takes a few minutes.

Participating community scientists will collect samples of ocean waters, bays, and brackish areas of rivers from the Manasquan Inlet to the Raritan Bayshore in Monmouth County. Sampling involves filling a bottle with the water, placing it on ice, and freezing it until it can be collected by Monmouth researchers. Bottles and coolers will be provided by the UCI.

The samples will then be analyzed in a lab for eDNA, trace genetic materials floating in the water that can indicate the recent presence of marine life ranging from sharks to microscopic bacteria. The data will be collated to help develop a baseline understanding of the species living in our waters that can be compared to future results. 

Volunteers can choose any site they’d like to sample and only need to collect one sample for the study. UCI Resilience and Outreach Project Lead Richard Kane said this community science project offers an excellent opportunity to get involved with a pioneering scientific approach to marine life detection and can be completed as a family activity.

“I’d love for volunteers to pick a place that means a lot to them, so they can say, ‘I care about it here and want to know more about it. I came to this beach as a kid, I take my kids to this beach, and maybe one day they’ll take my grandkids to this beach when they grow up,” Kane said.

Participants can also come to Monmouth on Nov. 20 for a workshop where the results of the findings will be presented.

To volunteer or learn more, email rkane@monmouth.edu. Sampling will take place between Sept. 29 and Oct. 10. Those interested in participating are asked to inquire before Sept. 29. Since the project seeks to cover a geographic balance of areas across the Monmouth County coast, the project team may decline proposals to sample sites that are already covered.

Read the UCI’s 20-Year Retrospective Report

“Reflections: Two Decades Supporting Stewardship of Coastal Communities and Ocean Resources” takes a look back at some of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute’s (UCI) major milestones, accomplishments and signature events. In its first 20 years, the UCI has made an indelible impact on the coastal communities it serves, on campus, and has helped inspire the next generation of ocean leaders. The UCI has also grown in influence and capacity, and is well prepared to continue leveraging the expertise of Monmouth’s faculty and the passion of its students to work with other partners who share their love for the ocean and coast.

Among the report’s features are a timeline walking from the UCI’s earliest years to today, a comprehensive list of all of the student and faculty research projects funded through the Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe Scholars program, and a roster of all Champion of the Ocean honorees going back to 2005.

The report is available in digital flipbook and PDF formats:

• View digital flipbook version
• View PDF version

Hard copies of the report are also available upon request. To obtain a copy, email uci@monmouth.edu.

Celebrate the UCI’s 20th Anniversary

Please join us October 9 for the 2025 Future of the Ocean Symposium and Champion of the Ocean Awards Luncheon, to be held at Monmouth’s historic Great Hall at Shadow Lawn. The symposium is free and open to the public. Tickets are required for the subsequent luncheon.

Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are also still available. Proceeds will support expanded student research opportunities.