Joyce Novak

Joyce has served as the Executive Director of the Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP), the National Estuary Program on the east end of Long Island, NY since 2018 and is the Chair of the Association of National Estuary Programs. PEP works closely with federal, state, and local partners to create and carry out strategies for clean water and healthy habitats in the Peconic Estuary watershed that support communities and the economy. Joyce oversaw the development and publication of the PEP Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan completed in 2020. Planning for the future of the Peconics involves an understanding of the communities that reside in the watershed; the natural systems that surround it and how these will evolve as our changing climate creates rapidly altering processes and conditions. Prior to this Joyce spent 14 years in Ireland as a scientist and researcher in coastal paleoecology, watershed management and coastal ecology, and worked as a consultant to the Irish fishing industry for six years completing sustainability plans for multiple fishery collectives including Brown crab and mackerel. In 2015, with grant funding from the Irish Sea Fishing Board, she established a Coastal Education Hub at the end of the Beara peninsula in County Cork. Joyce began her career in New York City working on wetland restoration projects and the award winning Blue Belt program for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. 

Research Keywords

coastal paleoecology, watershed management, coastal planning, coastal and ocean policy, climate change, sustainability, strategic planning