Staff and Contact Information

Robert Light
Phone: 814-898-6160
E-mail: rwl2@psu.edu

Robert Light is the director of Pennsylvania Sea Grant and senior associate dean for research, graduate studies and outreach at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. His duties also include leading the college's efforts in continuous quality improvement, corporate and continuing education, and undergraduate research. He was assistant professor of biology at the college from 1984-1987. Since 1987, Dr. Light has assumed a number of administrative positions with the college, each with expanded responsibilities.

In his 21 years at the college, Dr. Light has been active in the community:

• Membership on several boards: Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force, National Earth Force Program, Northwest Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, and National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Center Review Panels.
• Held several posts with economic development organizations: director of the Ben Franklin Partnership office in Erie (1985-1988), educational liaison for the Erie Conference on Community Development Community Agenda (1987-1988); and acting director of the Northwest Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc. (1988).
• Involved in strategic planning for several school districts, outreach centers, and conservation groups.

Dr. Light has been responsible for overseeing the implementation of the community and economic development programs at the college: including 13 outreach centers; the college's Center for Corporate and Continuing Education that provides customized corporate training and development; and the Penn State Educational Partnership Program, a program that helps middle and high school students succeed in school.

Dr. Light earned a Ph.D. in Ecology from Penn State in 1983, an M.S. in Biology from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 1979, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Delaware in 1975. He has received recognition for both athletics and academics, including national recognition in collegiate volleyball. His research specialties include stream and brook trout ecology.