Fall 2026: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Elects New Corporation Members
New Corporation members were elected at WHOI’s recent joint meeting of the Board and Corporation. From left to right: Dewitt Jones IV, Ellie Schmidt, Thomas McGauley, Catharine Barrow McGauley, Lawrence Backman, and Susan Gonzalez. Missing is new corporation member Michael Emmerman. (Photo by Danielle Fino ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) October 16, 2026
Woods Hole, Mass. – At Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) Fall Joint Meeting of the Board and Corporation, Institution leaders, elected seven new Corporation members.
According to WHOI President and Director Peter de Menocal, “We are thrilled to welcome our new Corporation members. Their professional experience, commitment to service, and deep connections to the ocean will strengthen WHOI at a pivotal time for ocean science. Together, they bring valuable perspectives in advancing innovation, building resilience, supporting the next generation of ocean leaders, and guiding WHOI’s mission and future.”
New Corporation Members
Lawrence Backman
Larry Backman is happily retired from a 40-year networking and telecommunications career that spanned eleven companies, three of which he helped take public. Along the way, he was involved in early Internet technology, including Ethernet, TCP/IP, and network security. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brandeis University and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Lowell. A longtime supporter of WHOI, Larry has collaborated with its Marine Predators Group on whale shark and swordfish tagging and is passionate about marine research, engineering, and pelagic life. He spends as much time on the waters off Cape Cod as possible and is increasingly interested in the ecosystems developing on and around offshore wind turbines and getting in the water alongside them to learn more.
Michael N. Emmerman
Mike is a Managing Director at Neuberger Berman, where he has worked for the past 52 years. He is also a longtime American Red Cross disaster-response volunteer and serves as Emergency Management Regional Program Lead- Liaison to Government for the Greater New York Region. A volunteer intelligence analyst and instructor on money laundering and geopolitical issues, Mike has trained federal law enforcement, intelligence, and military personnel for more than two decades. An avid scuba diver and former instructor, he has published research on diving safety. He holds degrees from Pace University and Long Island University and is an Honorary Deputy Chief of both the NYPD and FDNY.
Susan Gonzalez
Susan is an independent board director, senior consultant and attorney with more than 30 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Specializing in international corporate law and infrastructure development, Susan has spent the majority of her career working with global power generation companies with a focus on clean and renewable energy. She currently serves on the boards of South Jersey Industries and Sonnedix Power Holdings, and acts as a senior advisor to the Infrastructure Investments Group at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Susan holds a BA from the University of Michigan, a JD from Suffolk University Law School, and certificates in comparative law from the Université Jean Moulin and corporate governance from Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD). Raised partly in the lower Florida Keys, she has a lifelong connection to the ocean.
Dewitt Jones, IV
Born and raised in Falmouth, Dick has maintained lifelong ties to Woods Hole while living in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood since the 1970s. A Harvard College and Kennedy School graduate, Dick founded the Boston Community Loan Fund (now BlueHub Capital) in 1985. As President of BlueHub Energy, Dick led climate, energy, and resiliency initiatives, including the development of a pioneering solar company for affordable housing and the co-founding of WegoWise, the nation’s largest multifamily energy benchmarking database. After retiring in 2025, Dick has continued exploring solutions to climate, energy, resiliency, and insurance challenges in low-income and climate-threatened communities. Dick has also served on the boards of the Falmouth Housing Trust and Penikese Island School.
Catharine Barrow McGauley
Katie is Lead Portfolio Manager at Atlantic Charter Insurance Company and an independent mutual fund trustee. With more than 25 years of experience in public financial markets, she has served on numerous nonprofit boards and investment committees, including Gore Place, the Massachusetts Council of Churches, and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. A Colorado College and Brooks School graduate, Katie comes from a family of conservationists and fishermen and has long followed WHOI through her father, Kit Barrow. She lives in Wellesley with her husband, Tom, and their two sons.
Thomas A. McGauley
Tom has more than 25 years of experience as a CFO, consultant, and advisor to life science and technology companies. A CPA and Stonehill College graduate, he has guided startups and early-stage companies, often working with founders, through numerous financing transactions, including IPOs, and advised on finance, strategy, SEC reporting, and investor relations. Tom is a former U.S. Army Captain and company commander. He is an avid sailor, certified divemaster, and fly fisherman, with a lifelong connection to the ocean. He lives in Wellesley with his wife, Katie, and their two sons.
Ellie Schmidt
Ellie is an early-career clinical psychologist whose work focuses on helping individuals, couples, families, and communities build more secure relationships. Her holistic approach was shaped by her undergraduate experience at the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies program and by teaching Earth Science at Concord-Carlisle High School. She serves on the Board of the Penikese Island School and supports ocean-focused undergraduate programs that inspire the next generation of ocean scientists. In her free time, Ellie enjoys beachcombing, gardening, and scuba diving.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its mission is to understand the ocean and its interactions with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in fundamental and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of ocean data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge to inform people and policies for a healthier planet. Learn more at whoi.edu.