President Obama has appointed UF alumnus Mimi Drew to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.
Drew, currently the secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, will represent Florida in the project, which includes representatives from the five Gulf Coast states affected by the spill: Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas.
"We're not sure where the task force will directly focus," Drew said. "That remains to be seen."
Drew, who received a bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in environmental engineering and sciences from UF in the late 1970s, credits her experiences at UF for her opportunities.
Drew was recommended by Governor Crist for the position on the task force and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
According to Drew, the task force, established by President Obama on Oct. 5 to repair and clean the Gulf Coast region, will meet either quarterly or monthly, depending on its needed presence. This past week, the task force held an open panel in Pensacola where 250 residents from the states spoke their concerns.
"One thing is for certain," Drew said. "We will give the citizens of each state what they need.
