William John Merrell

Background

Merrell, William John was born on February 16, 1943 in Grand Island, Nebraska, United States. Son of William John and Dorothy Belle Merrell.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Sam Houston State University, 1965; Master of Arts, Sam Houston State University, 1967; Doctor of Philosophy, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1971.

Career

Research associate, Department Oceanography, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1970-1971, 73-74; postdoctoral research associate, Department Oceanography, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1971-1972; lecturer, deputy department head, Department Oceanography, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1977-1979; deputy department head, Department Oceanography, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1981-1983; associate professor, Department Oceanography, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1981-1985; professor, Department Oceanography, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., since 1985; co-investigator oceanography remote sensing project, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1969-1970; deputy sea grant director, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1977-1978; assistant to dean geoscience, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1978-1979; associate director Earth Resources Institute, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1978-1979; director Earth Resources Institute, College Geophysical Society, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1983-1984; associate dean, College Geophysical Society, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1983-1985; director division atmospheric and marine science, College Geophysical Society, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1985; research program management system officer, Office International Decade Ocean Exploration, National Science Foundation, 1972-1973; Executive officer, Office International Decade Ocean Exploration, National Science Foundation, 1974-1977; assistant director, Office International Decade Ocean Exploration, National Science Foundation, 1985-1987; oceanographer, manager, Climate and Coastal Zone Branch Science Applications Inc., 1979-1980; president, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., Galveston, 1987-1991; vice president research policy, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U., 1992-1993; vice chancellor for strategic programs, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical U. System, Galveston, 1993-1996; president, Texas Institute Oceanography, 1989-1991. Program manager Gulf of Mexico Topographic Features Synthesis, 1981-1983, principal investigator ocean drilling program, 1983-1985. Member human exploration of space-space studies board, chairman ocean studies board, member board on sustainable development, member global change committee, chairman international spce programs committee National Research Council.

President H. John Heinz Center for Science Economics and the Environment, Washington, since 1995. Advising committee on research programs State of Texas. Advising committee for Geosci.

National Science Foundation.

Achievements

• William John Merrell has been listed as a noteworthy Oceanography educator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Board of directors Galveston History Federation. Board of Governors Galveston Economics Development Corporation. Board of trustees Galveston Wharves.

Member The Oceanography Society, Vanda Club (Antarctica), Sigma Xi (Distinguished Member award 1987), Sigma Phi Sigma, Alpha Chi, Phi Kappa Phi.

Connections

Married June Bearden, October 12,1970. Children: Bethany Susan, Meredith Megan.

Father:

William John Merrell

Mother:

Dorothy Belle Merrell

Spouse:

June Bearden

child:

Meredith Megan Merrell

child:

Bethany Susan Merrell