Staff News

Marsee Joins Michigan Sea Grant as Senior Graphic Artist

Todd Marsee

Artist and graphic designer Todd Marsee recently joined the Michigan Sea Grant staff as a member of the communications team. Marsee will be responsible for designing print publications and maintaining the Michigan Sea Grant Web site.

Marsee holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Eastern Michigan University. He recently served as a graphic designer for Foursight Creative Group in Plymouth, Michigan where he designed brochures, logos, and other print materials. He also taught courses in print and Web design at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan and maintained a departmental Web site.

"We are very pleased to have Todd join Michigan Sea Grant,” said Communications Director Elizabeth LaPorte. “He brings excellent design, illustration and photography skills, as well as project management experience to the position.”

Marsee will be based in Michigan Sea Grant's office at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. He may be contacted at marsee@umich.edu or (734) 764-2421.

John Hannah Award Presented for Detroit River Activities

Detroit skyline

The Michigan Council of Extension Associations presented the prestigious John A. Hannah Award for Program Excellence to Sea Grant Extension staff and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension staff involved in the Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative. The award recognizes superior programs that are developed and carried out by MSU Extension professionals appointed by the MSU Board of Trustees.

In 1997, Michigan Sea Grant Extension agent Mark Breederland and Extension colleagues Morse Brown and Lillian Randolph collaborated with highly diverse stakeholders—including businesses, industries, local governments, environmental organizations, conservation groups, churches, academics, labor unions and other groups such as Metropolitan Affairs Coalition—to nominate the Detroit River as an American Heritage River.

The Detroit River was designated as one of 14 American Heritage Rivers in July 1998, thus receiving federal assistance in its efforts to obtain resources for natural resource and environmental protection, economic revitalization, and historic and cultural preservation. 

Breederland then chaired the initiative’s steering committee to implement priority projects such as expanding soft engineering along shorelines, developing waterfront greenways, establishing an international wildlife refuge, restoring an historic building on Belle Isle, and remediating brownfield sites. The initiative helped leverage more than $40 million in federal grants, as well as considerable private sector investments.

Breederland and Extension colleagues including Barry Murray, who worked on the initiative as part of his private sector employment, and David Sanders from the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition accepted the award in October 2004.