Cronin joins faculty at UMass Dartmouth
Melissa Cronin is joining the faculty at the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMass Dartmouth in Fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor, focusing on conservation of manta and devil rays, fisheries equity, and human–ocean dynamics. Her lab uses interdisciplinary and mixed-method approaches—combining satellite and spatial data, ecological modeling, and field-based quantitative social science—to support equitable and evidence-based fisheries and conservation policy. Learn more about her work here.
“I am so excited to be joining UMASS SMAST,” Melissa shared. “I am thrilled to be returning to my roots in New England to join a public university and a department that shares my commitment to innovative and impact-focused research, teaching, and practice in marine fisheries and conservation. Plus, I finally get to put all my flannel shirts back into rotation!”
SMAST is an internationally recognized marine and coastal research institution located on the water in New Bedford, MA—home to the nation’s most economically valuable fishing port—offering local opportunities for applied, collaborative research with fishers and fishing-dependent communities.
Melissa is also actively recruiting M.S. and Ph.D. students to join ongoing research on manta ray bycatch mitigation and global fisheries conflict. Visit her website for more information about these openings.
Congratulations Melissa!
