Technical Support
The Outstanding Staff awards are chosen by nominations received by the Awards Committee from all faculty, staff, and students at VIMS. They are awarded in the categories of Facilities/Safety/Trades, Technical Support, and Administrative Support.
The winner of the 2017 Outstanding Employee for Technical Support is Mr. Mac Sisson.
Mac Sisson has worked for VIMS for more than 30 years, and in that time has become noted for his research and advisory services contributions, including service as a principal investigator on many research grants.
Mac’s work has focused on advancing the complex hydrodynamic simulations that help improve our understanding of local bays and estuaries and allow modeling of sea-level rise, water quality, and economic development within Chesapeake Bay.
Although these models are complex in nature, Mac is renowned for his skill in translating his science for a variety of audiences—
a skill on which others, both internal and external to VIMS, have come to depend.
Mac has since 2010 been an instrumental member of the Shen lab, which has benefited greatly from his contributions. Lab members remark that Mac is always pleasant to work with, and plays a key role in helping new students and visiting scientists from around the world acclimate to life at VIMS.
With his pleasant demeanor and skills in research, science, and dissemination, Mac is truly an asset to the Institute.