Stephen M. Coan

Stephen M. Coan is an American environmentalist and educator. He currently serves as Vice President for Finance at Ripon College, in Ripon, Wisconsin. He serves as Commissioner on the higher education accrediting body, New England Commission for Higher Education. He is also a Trustee of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, a Strategic Advisor to MResult, Inc., and serves on the Board of Corporators for Chelsea Groton Bank in Connecticut.

For over 20 years, Coan served in several leadership roles within the State of Connecticut, including Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Council on Tourism, and as a member of the transition team for Governor Ned Lamont. Coan was President and CEO of Sea Research Foundation for two decades and is credited with the financial turnaround and mission growth of that organization. He has also served as President and CEO of JASON Learning, an international STEM and distance learning non-profit which he helped to develop earlier in his career.

Sea Research Foundation operates Mystic Aquarium, one of the nation's leading marine mammal research centers with a focus on conservation, education and research. With over 800,000 annual visitors, Mystic Aquarium is the largest cultural attraction in Connecticut and one of the largest in New England. The Aquarium also serves over 100,000 students annually through a suite of education programs including undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate courses.

Coan and Mystic Aquarium were honored at the White House with the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2014 . The Award recognized Mystic Aquarium's accomplishments with STEM education programs in Native American nations and with urban youth throughout the United States. Coan and Mystic Aquarium played a prominent role with the White House Council on Environmental Quality leading to President Barack Obama's designation of the New England Canyons and Seamounts National Marine Monument, and President Donald Trump's continuation of that designation when he assumed office. Provided by Wikipedia