Smithsonian Journeys Experts

John Dorsey is a marine biologist and a retired Professor Emeritus from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, where he lectured in marine, environmental, and climate courses. Prior to that, he attended the University of Melbourne in Australia and traveled throughout the country, surfing at many beaches along the southeast coast, diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and exploring the vast interior, including the spectacular Uluru and Olga formations. John then worked as a marine biologist for the City of Los Angeles, focusing on marine monitoring in Santa Monica Bay and stormwater management. During this time, he also taught part-time at LMU, teaching courses in marine pollution, and helping develop a major in environmental science, eventually becoming a full-time professor. As a Research Fellow with the Coastal Research Institute at LMU, he worked with staff scientists and students in characterizing sandy beach habitats in Santa Monica Bay and developing living shoreline projects focusing on restoring dunes, increasing biodiversity, and helping to mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels from climate change.