A Message from President Aswani K. Volety
I am honored and excited to serve as President of the World Oyster Society. I value the friendship, collaboration and support I have received from WOS members over the years. This organization connects us, in meaningful ways, to each other and to the natural world around us.
WOS excelled under the leadership of founder and longtime president Katsuyoshi Mori, Ph.D., professor emeritus of Tohoku University, Japan. I welcome his continued guidance and support as we move our mission, vision, and objectives forward together. I am eager to increase membership, enhance our connection with the National Shellfisheries Association, develop additional targeted workshops and conferences to serve specific regional needs, and meet even more of you at the next International Oyster Symposium.
I also wanted to share a professional update with you. On July 1, I returned to the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) to become the institution’s seventh Chancellor. I most recently served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Elon University. Before that, I was Dean of UNCW’s renowned College of Arts & Sciences and the Executive Director of the Center for Marine Science. Earlier, I spent 15 years at Florida Gulf Coast University as professor of marine science and director of Vester Marine Field Station, and later as interim dean for the College of Arts & Sciences.
Leading UNCW, which is North Carolina’s coastal university, and the WOS at the same time just feels right. We have the potential to create some powerful opportunities for learning and growth centered around our shared commitment to advancing knowledge and goodwill.
Yours in excitement and gratitude,
Aswani K. Volety, Ph.D.
President of the World Oyster Society
Chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, United States