Staff

Executive Director

Reneé Reilly, PhD

As a research scientist, Reneé believes that rigorous science should be the basis for decision-making to balance the interests of fisheries and offshore development. Before joining ROSA, Reneé served at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on the team that developed their Offshore Wind Research & Monitoring Initiative. Reneé earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management from Pennsylvania State University, and both her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Oceanography, with a focus on quantitative fisheries ecology, from Old Dominion University. Following her education, Reneé worked as a post-doctoral research associate in the Quantitative Fisheries Center at Michigan State University.

Research Director

Mike Pol, PhD

Mike is a marine scientist with an extensive record of close collaboration with commercial fishermen on gear-based solutions to bycatch and other fisheries issues. His work on offshore wind has concentrated on regional impacts of multiple projects on fisheries and fishing operations. Prior to joining ROSA, Mike served as marine fisheries biologist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries for more than 22 years. Mike has a far-reaching network of regional, national, and international partnerships, and a history of leadership and teamwork on various research topics. Mike holds a Doctorate in Marine Science and Technology from the School for Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; a MS in Wildlife Biology (Fisheries) from The University of Montana; and a BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University.

Executive Administrator

Helen Henderson

Helen has more than 25 years of experience with environmental nonprofit organizations, specializing in policy, project and program management, and public outreach. She offers a strong understanding of the environmental and scientific dimensions of ocean development, offshore wind, and fishing, supporting ROSA’s business administration with both strategic insight and operational expertise.

At ROSA, Helen oversees day-to-day operations and works closely with the Executive Director to manage administrative functions and organizational effectiveness.
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, and a New Jersey resident for the past 35 years, Helen maintains a deep personal connection to the coast and ocean, and she will never be far from where the map turns blue.

Research Program Manager

Tricia Perez

Tricia manages ROSA’s regional research programs, supporting and coordinating funding for research on offshore development, fish, and fisheries. She also synthesizes regional research gaps and maintains databases that track ongoing science to help researchers, industry, and managers better understand and manage ocean ecosystems.

Tricia joined ROSA from the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office where she supported the offshore wind environmental and community engagement portfolios after completing a NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship. She holds a Masters in Fisheries Oceanography from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) and served as a Northeast Fisheries Observer for 3 years throughout New England.