Mona Behl

Mona Behl is the associate director of Georgia Sea Grant. In this role, she provides administrative and financial leadership to Georgia Sea Grant by directing the program’s research and fellowship portfolios, building partnerships, and ensuring the quality, relevance, and impact of the Sea Grant activities in Georgia. Behl also holds public service and academic appointments at University of Georgia, and is a Non-Residential Fellow with the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Policy Program. Her work focuses on building the adaptive capacity of local communities to manage the impacts of extreme weather and climate change, preparing people for the future of work, and broadening participation in science.

Behl is passionate about improving access, engagement, and leadership development of women and minorities in science. She co-chairs the Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to Increase Retention (MPOWIR) program, and serves on the leadership board of Earth Science Women’s Network (ESWN). She is the founding member of AMS Early Career Leadership Academy, and Sea Grant’s Community Engaged Internship program.

Behl earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics from Panjab University in India, and doctorate in physical oceanography from Florida State University.