Biography of Dr. D. Derek Aday
Dean, William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences and Director, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
An expert in aquatic ecology, toxicology, and fishery ecology, Dr. D. Derek Aday began his service as Director of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Dean of William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences in 2021.
Prior to becoming Dean & Director, Aday was Department Head of the Applied Ecology department at North Carolina State University and University Director of the USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. He is a fellow of the American Fisheries Society and previous editor-in-chief of the society’s flagship journal.
As Dean & Director, Dr. Aday has the primary responsibility to provide the vision and leadership for the Batten School & VIMS to be a world-renowned center of excellence in coastal and marine sciences, attracting the best scholars and students in the nation, expanding the frontiers of science through research and discovery, training the next generation of leaders, and making an impact on the state, nation, and world through solutions-based science for global coastal communities and marine systems. The Batten School & VIMS have more than 500 faculty, staff, and students and, with an annual operating budget of $70 million, are among the largest and most well known coastal and marine research and education centers in the United States.
Prior to serving as department head, Aday was the assistant dean for academic programs at NCSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (2013-17), associate professor of applied ecology (2010-15) and assistant professor of biology (2005-10) at NCSU, and assistant professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology (2002-05) at Ohio State University. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Aquatic Ecology from Louisiana State University in 1997, and a PhD in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Illinois in 2002.
During his academic career, Aday's research focused on aspects of aquatic ecology, environmental toxicology, and fishery science. He published hundreds of articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and technical reports.
As Dean & Director, Aday has worked to build visibility and public awareness of the impactful, solutions-based science and educational outcomes produced by the Batten School & VIMS, strengthen the relationship between VIMS and William & Mary through new academic and scholarly partnerships, enhance the influence of VIMS’ scientific advisory work in the state and federal governments, and build new and stronger partnerships with donors and the private sector. Recent outcomes of these efforts include substantial increases (> 30% over three years) in operating budget, development of a new undergraduate major focused on coastal and marine sciences, creation of a new institutional unit focused on Communication, Marketing and Public Education, and securing a $100 million naming gift and a $50 million scholarship gift for the Batten School.