Alaska Sea Grant Director elected Chair of Marine Debris Foundation Board

Alaska Sea Grant director, Ginny Eckert, was elected Chair of the Marine Debris Foundation Board. The nonprofit charitable foundation was authorized by the federal Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, which addresses the global crisis of plastic waste in our oceans. 

Twelve individuals were appointed to the inaugural Board of Directors in April, and Eckert was selected at the Board’s first meeting in June to chair the distinguished group. 

“It’s an honor to serve with this diverse group to launch the Foundation and tackle this critical environmental challenge,” said Eckert. 

Part of the new foundation’s role is to encourage, accept, and administer private funding. The foundation aims to strengthen the U.S. response capability, spur innovation and new research, enhance global engagement, and improve domestic infrastructure to prevent and address the marine debris crisis. 

Board members serve terms of two to six years, and Eckert’s role in the Chair position is for the first two years of her four year term.