Michael Spranger, Ph.D.

Titles

• Associate Dean for Extension, Environmental and Natural Resources Programs
• Assistant Director, Florida Sea Grant Program Extension and Education

Biography

Dr. Mike Spranger is Associate Dean for Environmental and Natural Resources Programs with UF/IFAS Extension and Assistant Director for Extension and Education with the Florida Sea Grant Program, serving in this capacity since 2000. His responsibilities are to link diverse Extension programs ranging from aquaculture to water quality to fisheries and across different disciplines to solve problems that stretch from the uplands to the coast. Taking this ecosystem-based approach, it is the idea that Extension programs will integrate environmental, economic, and social expertise to find local sustainable solutions to Florida’s pressing issues.

Mike has thirty years of professional experience in university, Extension, and outreach activities, teaching, applied research, and management at the local, state, regional, and national levels. He has previously worked at the University of Washington, Washington State University, and University of Wisconsin in such capacities as county Extension agent, county Extension director, specialist, and state program leader. He also taught courses in organizational development, government, environmental science, and environmental ethics at the University of Phoenix-Washington Campus. He has served in a number of leadership roles nationally in the educational field, including serving as chair of the National Assembly of Sea Grant Extension Program Leaders and President of the National Marine Educators Association.

He has a Ph.D. in Urban and Public Affairs from Portland State University; an M.S. degree in Water Resources Management and an M.A. degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and B.A. degrees in Political Science and History from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

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