Change has been a steady companion throughout Dr. Laura Tiu’s life, carrying her from the cornfields of Iowa to the coasts of the Philippines and across the southeastern United States. With each experience brought new perspectives and knowledge, shaping her approach to science-based education programs she has delivered across Florida for over a decade.
Now, Dr. Tiu will lend her regional expertise statewide in her new role as Florida Sea Grant’s Associate Director of Extension and Education (ADEE), a position previously held by Dr. Maia McGuire.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Tiu to Florida Sea Grant, where she will play a key role in strengthening connections among UF/IFAS Extension, university researchers, the Sea Grant network, and state and national partners,” said Dr. Sherry Larkin, director of Florida Sea Grant. Her experience uniquely positions her to lead Florida Sea Grant UF/IFAS Extension faculty in developing and delivering impactful, research-based programming across Florida.”
Dr. Tiu brings three decades of Extension experience, including 11 years serving Florida’s Panhandle.
Distinguished by sugary white sands and emerald waters, piney hardwood forests, and winding rivers flowing into Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf, Walton and Okaloosa counties attract more than 10 million visitors each year. Efforts to balance the protection of these rich yet complex natural resources while promoting sustainable recreation and tourism in the area have been supported by Dr. Tiu’s decadal extension work.
Before beginning her career in Extension, Dr. Tiu’s academic and professional path took her across various landscapes, shaping her ability to adapt and respond to community and environmental needs. These early experiences built a foundation for her Extension work.
She pursued a degree in marine biology in the Philippines, a scuba diver’s paradise where she gained hands-on experience and worked on the Philippines’ first marine preserve on Apo Island. Rather than returning home after graduation, she was enchanted by the coast and moved to Florida to work on a tropical fish farm in Plant City and later at Mote Marine Laboratory, solidifying her commitment to aquatic science and applied research.
She later earned a Master of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology, focusing on fisheries and aquaculture, shifting her focus from marine to freshwater systems. After graduating, Dr. Tiu spent seven and a half years with the Kentucky State University Aquaculture Program conducting fish nutrition research, where she discovered her passion for Extension.
“I loved being able to explain our research to people when they came into our office and asked about it.” said Dr. Tiu.
With a passion for extension work, Dr. Tiu served as an Aquaculture Extension Specialist at Ohio State University for 18 years, where she earned her Ph.D. in Extension Education and eventually served as Director of the Aquaculture Extension Program. During her tenure, the number of aquaculture operations in Ohio increased from 30 to over 200, with many of the startups graduating from her Aquaculture Boot Camp program.
In 2015, Dr. Tiu relocated to the Sunshine State, where she has been part of the Florida Sea Grant and UF/IFAS family ever since. She has led education and youth programming in marine science, fisheries, and environmental education, while supporting signature initiatives such as statewide aquaponics and pond management programs. Her work also includes national award-winning efforts focused on offshore aquaculture development, microplastic awareness, the Florida-Friendly Fishing Guide, and Florida Master Naturalist courses.
She also leads resilience-focused work as principal investigator for the Panhandle Water Level Sensors project. Funded in support by Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), this project strengthens local capacity to monitor flooding risks in Walton and Okaloosa counties.
Dr. Tiu has received the 2019 Florida Sea Grant Extension Communication Award and the UF/IFAS Alto and Patrecia Straughn Extension Educational Improvement Award, 2019 and 2023 UF/IFAS Professional Development Grant Award, and received 4-H and workforce development in Wildlife Outdoor Leadership Focus (W.O.L.F) from 2020-2022.
Reflecting on her time with Florida Sea Grant, Dr. Tiu cherishes the knowledge and connections made along the coast.
“Being a lifelong learner, I’ve enjoyed being able to learn from the other agents, our programs, and our curriculum. There have just been so many great learning opportunities for me, which would not be possible without all the great people in Florida Sea Grant that add so many different perspectives and value to our work.”
As ADEE, Dr. Tiu’s immediate priorities include reconnecting Extension agents with key resources, partner agencies, and helping plan events and programs for Florida Sea Grant’s 50th anniversary.
“The land-grant universities have three missions: research, education, and extension,” Dr. Tiu said. “Extension serves as a bridge between the university researchers, and non-researchers. We inform people who we are, what we do, and how we can connect them to opportunities they benefit from,”said Dr. Tiu. “Thirty years in Extension have prepared me for the changes that we’re going to see over the next 5 years.”