College Of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies Welcomes Fall 2025 New Faculty

“Howdy!” to the nine new faculty members of the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies for the fall 2025 semester. Representing four different academic departments, the addition of these new faculty members bolsters both the teaching and research capabilities of the college.

“I’m so thrilled to welcome these exceptionally passionate and talented professionals to the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies,” said Dr. Debbie Thomas, associate provost of Texas A&M University, founding dean of the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, executive associate vice president for Academic Affairs and chief academic officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston. “I am deeply inspired by their vision to further strengthen our college as the premier destination for coastal, marine and maritime education, discovery and innovation. Our first year as a college was extraordinary, and we are full throttle for even greater impact this year!”

“This is a remarkable group of new faculty members whose contributions to our campus will be far-reaching. I want to thank Dr. Thomas and her team for their outstanding scholarship and research efforts in bringing this talent to Texas A&M-Galveston, “said Col. Michael E. Fossum, vice president of Texas A&M University, chief operating officer of Texas A&M University at Galveston and superintendent of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. “I look forward to collaborating with each of them.”

Welcome to the following new faculty members, in alphabetical order by last name:

Seyed Sobhan Aleyasin

Assistant Professor – Marine Engineering Technology

Prior to joining the Department of Marine Engineering Technology in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Dr. Seyed Sobhan Aleyasin was a research associate at the University of Manitoba, Canada, working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada. His expertise is in thermo-fluid systems and techno-economic analysis of clean energy sources for marine transportation. Aleyasin’s research experience spans studies on stilling basins, bluff-body aerodynamics, turbulent jets, hydrokinetic turbines, solar energy systems and heat and water recovery technologies. He is proficient in Particle Image Velocimetry, Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter, Computational Fluid Dynamics and the design and analysis of heat exchangers and pressure vessels.

Nicholas Castellano

Assistant Professor of the Practice – Maritime Transportation

Prof. Nicholas Castellano ’18 graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a U.S. Coast Guard license as Third Officer Unlimited Tonnage upon Oceans. He brings approximately eight years of maritime experience, primarily aboard oil tankers, and most recently sailed with Crowley.

Castellano currently holds a Second Mate Unlimited Tonnage license with all necessary Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping endorsements. His responsibilities included watchstanding and handling dangerous liquids, and his global seafaring experience enhances his practical knowledge of the industry. He has a strong passion for maritime education and a commitment to developing future mariners through hands-on instruction, leadership training and a focus on operational safety.

Seleni Cruz

Assistant Professor – Marine and Coastal Environmental Science

Dr. Seleni Cruz’s research focuses on the intersection of natural resource and development economics, climate change and fisheries management. She uses econometric techniques and bioeconomic modeling to explore human–ocean interactions and inform policies that promote sustainable resource use and community resilience. Cruz’s work spans small-scale fisheries in Latin America and climate-sensitive fisheries in the United States, aiming to bridge scientific insight and policy action in the face of global environmental change. Prior to joining the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Cruz earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Economics from the University of Delaware, where she was awarded the Doctoral Fellowship for Excellence.

Dillon Davidson

Assistant Professor of the Practice – Maritime Transportation

Prof. Dillon Davidson ’24 is a Maine Maritime Academy graduate, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation with a license as Third Officer Unlimited Tonnage Upon Oceans. He earned his Master of International Affairs at Texas A&M University’s Bush School in 2024. Davidson holds a Second Mate Unlimited with supporting Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping endorsements. He brings experience from a commercial capacity and Military Sealift Command. He was responsible for the safe operation of all vessels he sailed on, including the loading and unloading of cargo, conducting detailed safety inspections, extensive maintenance, refitting work and conducting planning of all aspects of the voyage and mission. Davidson previously served as a visiting assistant professor of the practice.

Julian Hwang

Associate Professor – Marine and Coastal Environmental Science

Prior to joining the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, Dr. Julian Hwang was an assistant professor and undergraduate coordinator of agribusiness management and applied economics at West Virginia University. He also served as the chief economist for the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Hwang’s research focuses on economic valuation of coastal resources such as wetlands, ecosystem services and recreational fisheries. Hwang is an associate editor for Wetlands.

Daniel Kraemer

Instructional Assistant Professor – Marine and Coastal Environmental Science

Dr. Daniel Kraemer’s academic background is in geography, with a focus on human-environment interactions and geographic information science, or GIS. Before joining the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, he served as instructor of record, lab instructor and research assistant during his doctoral studies at the University of Connecticut. His research currently focuses on advancing the knowledge and modeling of the social dimensions of vulnerability to hazards and natural disasters.

William Orange

Assistant Professor of the Practice – Maritime Transportation

Prof. William Orange ’16 is a graduate of Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and a U.S. Coast Guard license as Third Officer Unlimited Tonnage upon Oceans. He brings nine years of experience aboard a variety of vessels, including offshore supply vessels and tankers, and currently holds a Chief Mate Unlimited license with full Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping endorsements. His work has encompassed offshore support, subsea construction, flotels and well stimulation and flowback operations. Orange brings a deep personal connection to the campus and the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. He is inspired by the institution’s legacy and his father’s service as an instructor.

André Rosenbaum de Avillez

Instructional Associate Professor – Maritime Studies

Dr. André Rosenbaum de Avillez first fell in love with teaching in 2010, when he began teaching philosophy at the community college level. After earning his Ph.D., he returned to community college teaching in 2016, where he remained for 10 years, earning tenure and two promotions before joining the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies. His pedagogy is strongly influenced by the variety of his own experiences as a teacher and as a student in institutions ranging from community colleges to R1 universities. Rosenbaum de Avillez’s areas of specialization are 20th century continental philosophy and aesthetics. His areas of competency include ethics and the history of philosophy. Rosenbaum de Avillez is an active member of the American Association of Philosophy Teachers.

Zhaojun Wang

Assistant Professor – Marine and Coastal Environmental Science

Dr. Zhaojun Wang’s research focuses on informing policymaking related to shipping-borne environmental issues within a coupled human and natural system. Her work addresses challenges such as marine invasive species, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping. Prior to joining the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Wang was a postdoctoral researcher at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine Studies from the University of Delaware.