Please meet our Board of Directors

   Dr. Robyn E. Hannigan is President of the Blue Institute, where she leads fundraising, grant strategy, and external engagement in support of the Institute’s mission to advance resilient oceans and waters through interdisciplinary science, education, and public engagement. She works closely with Founder Judith Underwood to strengthen governance, partnerships, and institutional visibility.

An internationally recognized scientist and academic leader, Dr. Hannigan has served as President of Ursinus College, Provost at Clarkson University, and Founding Dean of the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Across these roles, she led complex academic enterprises, advanced interdisciplinary research, and strengthened mission-driven institutions with strong public purpose.

Dr. Hannigan is an accomplished researcher and innovator, having led multiple startup companies, secured significant external funding, and mentored students and faculty across career stages. She has also served as a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation. She has been a trusted advisor to the Blue Institute since its incorporation in 2016.

She holds a B.S. in Biology from The College of New Jersey, an M.S. in Geology from SUNY Buffalo, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science from the University of Rochester.

Mr. Benskin has been a significant presence on the Canadian and International cultural landscape for over thirty years. A former Artistic Director of Black Theatre Workshop, Canada's longest running Black theatre company, Tyrone is an award winning Actor / Director with well over 150 film, television, and theatre credits. He is also as a published composer, song-writer and recording artist. Tyrone has starred in NBC's hit series Debris as well as appearances in the acclaimed films Pieces of a Woman and Death of a Ladies Man.  For over two decades Tyrone has also been a vocal advocate of the importance of the arts as a social pillar.  To that end, he has served as National-Vice President of ACTRA and several other augural advocacy organizations.  As a Member of Parliament in Canada’s House of Commons he was appointed Official Opposition Critic - Canadian Heritage and Deputy Critic –  Official Languages. He was appointed to the Sub-committee on International Human Rights. From hearing testimony of international human rights abuses to working on issues such as food security and access as well as the issue of the lack of availability of clean water on Canada’s First Nation’s and Inuit Reserves. “Climate change isn’t simply an election banner, it’s a human rights issue.” 

 Rear Admiral (USN Ret.) David Duryea is a native of Orchard Park, New York. He graduated from the University of Rochester earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Geomechanics. A retired Submarine Officer, Duryea’s served on 4 submarines including Commanding Officer of the USS Florida Gold (SSBN 728). Shore duty assignments include a tour at the United States Strategic Command and Force Engineer, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. 

As an Acquisition Corps member, he served as Program Manager, Advanced Submarine Systems Development Office, Program Manager, Submarine Imaging and Electronic Warfare Systems (PMS 435) and Program manager, Special Operations Forces Undersea Mobility Program Office (PMS 399). As a Flag officer, he served as Naval Sea Systems Command, Deputy Commander for Undersea Warfare and Commander, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)/Director, Undersea Technology (SEA 073).  

He retired from the Navy on Nov. 1, 2014. After retirement, he was the Vice President for Finance and Management at the State University of New York at Cortland from 2015–2018. He is currently a Senior Vice President at Systems Planning and Analysis in Alexandria, VA.   

 Dr. Michael Passow is a technology leader in the areas of AI/ML and semiconductor factory automation with the IBM Semiconductor business unit of IBM Research, based in Albany, NY. 

Dr. Passow's prior role was as a principal member of Technical Staff in Data & Analytics Solution Architecture at GlobalFoundries in Malta, NY. 

From within the corporate IT organization, he leads a global program in AI and Machine Learning development and deployment of manufacturing applications in GF semiconductor chip factories in the US, Europe and Asia. Of particular interest is the advancement of sensors and edge computing which enable distributed ML from the cloud to the device in the field. 

Prior to joining GF in 2020, Dr. Passow spent six years as a Senior Technical Staff Member and Research Scientist at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Laboratory in Yorktown Heights, NY. There he co-developed the Environmental Monitoring and Management cyberinfrastructure for The Jefferson Project at Lake George, NY, a state-of-the-art systems approach which supports environmental monitoring, modeling, simulation, forecasting and experimentation. This solution was designed to inform smart decision-making for ecosystem resilience in the face of long-term pressures from climate change and intensifying human use. Prior to this, Dr. Passow led the development and deployment of advanced sensors, real-time analytics, and advanced process control systems at IBM’s semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities in the US. Michael Passow received his PhD in Nuclear Engineering (plasma physics) from the University of Michigan, along with a MS and BS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.

Judith Underwood is the founder of the Blue Institute, a 501(c)3 headquartered in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and co-founder of Blue Innovation Labs, headquartered at Brunswick Landing, Maine. An environmentalist and educator at heart, she leads a mission-driven ecosystem dedicated to fostering equitable economic development through sustainable ocean practices, clean water, and climate resiliency. Her work is deeply integrated into the global maritime sector through Blue Innovation Labs' memberships in the WEF 1,000 Ocean Startups Consortium, the Navy’s UTIC, and the Norway-based The Ocean Opportunity Lab (TOOL).

Judith’s organizations operate a "dual-hub" model that bridges regional innovation corridors and serves as a DOE Connector for the American-Made Challenges. Through the successful multi-year hybrid Blue Incubator program—supporting 30 startups—and the virtual Blue Excelerator (BX), she maintains a high-value relationship with the Department of Energy to accelerate federal technology deployment. With 25 years’ experience in science development and technology transfer at institutions such as MIT, the United Nations, and the ICTP in Italy, Judith also serves as a mentor for MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) and NATO’s DIANA accelerator.

A pioneer in renewable energy and the first woman in Massachusetts to start a solar company, she is currently spearheading the development of the "North Atlantic Blue Economy Corridor" and "Blue Economy Week." Judith holds a master’s degree from New York University and remains deeply connected to her community as an elected Water and Wastewater Commissioner in Harwich, MA. A writer of poetry and short plays, she brings a transdisciplinary approach that blends technical rigor with community-focused storytelling and cultural engagement.