The College of William & Mary’s Batten School & Virginia Institute of Marine Science has named Megan La Peyre as its new associate dean of research and advisory services. After earning her M.A. at the Batten School, La Peyre’s return marks a full-circle moment for a scholar whose work has consistently focused on applied, interdisciplinary science with real-world impact. In her new role, La Peyre will guide VIMS’s research enterprise and statutory advisory service, supporting faculty, staff and students as they address complex coastal and marine challenges facing Virginia, the nation and the world. VIMS is unique among coastal and marine science institutions in that it is a state agency with a legislatively mandated responsibility to provide unbiased, science-based advisory service to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Through this mandate, VIMS scientists and advisory experts inform decisions on issues ranging from fisheries management and habitat restoration to coastal resilience, ...