Cornelia Schlenk has been the Assistant Director for New York Sea Grant since 1987, with occasional periods serving also as the Acting Director.  Being a continuous member of  NYSG’s three-person management team, she helps provide leadership for all aspects of this multi-million dollar research, education, and extension/outreach program, with special responsibilities as head of NYSG’s research and graduate education components. Schlenk’s involvement with stakeholder groups includes the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Shellfish Advisory Committee (as chair), the NYS South Shore Estuary Reserve Council (as chair of the Technical Advisory Committee), EPA’s Long Island Sound Study Science and Technical Advisory Committee, The New York State Seagrass Task Force, the Nature Conservancy’s Blue Points Bottomlands Council, and the Suffolk County Aquaculture Lease Program Committee, among others.  She is the originating chair of the national Sea Grant network’s research coordinators and has been the PI and point person for several of NYSG’s special research initiatives.