Keynote Speaker

Dr. Donna marie bilkovic

Dr. Donna Marie Bilkovic employs socio-ecological theory, spatial modeling, and field ecology to investigate the intersection of coastal ecosystems and human communities. She is a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, and serves as the Assistant Director of the Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM).

Dr. Bilkovic's research centers on the ecological and sociocultural benefits of nature-based shoreline protection, the resilience of coastal habitats, the impact of shoreline alterations on fish communities, and the sustainability of marshes and their ecosystem services. She is the Lead Editor and a contributing author of "Living Shorelines: The Science and Management of Nature-Based Coastal Protection" (2017, CRC Press), the first comprehensive book on nature-based shoreline protection. Additionally, she has authored over 30 papers on shoreline ecosystems and nature-based coastal protection.

Dr. Bilkovic is a significant long-time contributor to the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) Restoration programs. She actively participates in several CBP workgroups, including Fish Habitat, Climate Resiliency, and Fisheries Sustainability, and serves on APNEP's Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and Executive Board.  For more information about her work and the Center for Coastal Resources Management, visit https://www.vims.edu/ccrm/.