Legal expert and thought leader on sea-level rise adaptation selected to lead Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative
Part of W&M’s Vision 2026 strategic plan, the collaborative launched this month
Thomas Ruppert has spent the last two decades focused on conceptualizing
Thomas K. Ruppert, a coastal planning specialist with Florida Sea Grant and thought leader on legal policy around sea-level rise adaptation and other areas of environmental law, has been selected as the assistant provost for coastal resilience and director of the new Virginia Coastal Resilience Collaborative (VCRC) at William & Mary.
The university-wide collaborative, which launched this month, seeks to produce and translate relevant science and research to allow state and local leaders to make informed policy decisions for the development and maintenance of resilient coastal systems. Its creation is part of the university’s water initiative, a core pillar of the Vision 2026 strategic plan.
“We are so fortunate to have Thomas Ruppert lead this critical effort. He offers a wealth of expertise in areas of sea-level rise and coastal protection,” said Provost Peggy Agouris, “and he also reflects William & Mary’s values in his work, which emphasizes collaboration, community and citizen engagement. This critical ability to attract the attention and best thinking of residents, policymakers and agencies is vital as the region and the commonwealth, with the help of VCRC and VIMS, develop solutions to the increasing effects of sea level rise. We welcome him to William & Mary and look forward to what the VCRC will accomplish.”
Last modified: November 20, 2025
