Jean Cowan, Senior Project Manager, brings more than 35 years of experience in coastal science and project management to The Water Institute team.

After 15 years working on applied research at marine science laboratories, Jean worked at Louisiana Department of Natural Resource as a coastal resource scientist during a pivotal time in Louisiana’s coastal work 2002–2007. In 2007, Jean moved to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration where she spent nine years as a marine habitat resource specialist working on Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration until May 2016.

As restoration from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continued, Jean became the associate director of science, planning, and program operations for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.

Most recently, Jean was the director of the Ecosystem Restoration Programs for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council where she led the development of programmatic documents that guide the Council’s restoration decisions, worked to develop consensus among council members and coordinated the development of the Council’s science-based monitoring and adaptive management guidelines.