Press Releases

The Water Institute of the Gulf welcomes two new board members

Dr. Norma Jean Mattei and Vikki Spruill

Apr 3, 2018

BATON ROUGE, La. (April 3, 2018) – The Water Institute of the Gulf is honored to welcome two exceptional new members to the board of directors – Dr. Norma Jean Mattei and Vikki Spruill. Mattei is a professor and Interim Dean of the University of New Orleans College of Engineering and has been active in the American Society of Civil Engineers for more than 20 years, most recently serving as president for 2017.

Spruill, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations and who will take the helm of the New England Aquarium July 30, has extensive experience with Gulf of Mexico issues from her time as president and CEO of Ocean Conservancy and education in New Orleans.

“We are so pleased that Mattei and Spruill will be joining the Institute board of directors and look forward to a long collaboration,” said Ambassador James Joseph, chair of the Institute board. “Their expertise in technical engineering as well as science communication and philanthropic work will be invaluable as we continue to use water science to help communities become more resilient.”

For the past five years, Mattei has served as one of three civilian members of the Mississippi River Commission, formed by Congress in 1879 to oversee issues pertaining to the Mississippi River basin from navigation to flood protection. She served on the Louisiana licensing board for professional engineers and the Louisiana Technology Council and is currently serving on the board of directors for the Louisiana Transportation Research Center Foundation. Mattei earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1982 and a doctorate in 1994, both from Tulane University. A University of New Orleans faculty member since 1995, Mattei’s research interests include watershed management, material and structural testing, sustainable reuse of spent construction and fabrication materials, and residual stress measurement.

Spruill, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations, is a leading voice for the American philanthropic sector. In 2003, she helped create FoundationWorks, an independent organization developed to helping foundations and others use strategic communications to enhance their effectiveness and she served as the first director of the Philanthropic Awareness Initiative, a research project that worked with foundations and philanthropy organizations to improve communications and outreach strategies. On March 26, Spruill announced she will be taking on a new challenge as the next President and CEO of the New England Aquarium, leaving the Council on Foundations on June 1.

Prior to joining the Council on Foundations, Spruill served as president and CEO of Ocean Conservancy, a science-based education and citizen empowerment organization focused on creating and sustaining healthy oceans. Spruill helped coordinate a bipartisan coalition to pass the RESTORE Act, an important federal act that directed much needed funds to governments and organizations for restoration efforts. Spruill received a bachelor’s in communications and religious studies from Loyola University New Orleans in 1980 and a master’s degree in communications from University of West Florida in 1981.

“The incredible talent, experience, and drive these two individuals bring to the board will greatly enhance the Institute’s ability to bring our work to where it’s needed around the world,” said Justin Ehrenwerth, president and CEO of the Institute. “We’re so excited they’ve agreed to help us on this journey.”

Mattei and Spruill join nine current Institute board members. More information about the board members is available here.