Steve Katona, professor of Biology and director of Allied Whale, becomes COA’s fourth president following Lou Rabineau’s retirement. Katona had been with the college since its early days, working as one of the school’s first professors and spearheading the Great Whales course which would eventually become Allied Whale. Katona grew up in Ohio and gained a Bachelor of the Arts and a Ph.D from Harvard University. After earning his degree, he worked at the California Institute of the Arts, and later made his way to College of the Atlantic. At COA, he served on the board of trustees, as provost and as dean of the faculty. In addition to these positions, he conducted extensive research in the Gulf of Maine pertaining to marine biological studies. He served as president of the American Cetacean Society and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Society for Marine Mammalogy, as well as the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Association.  Over the course of his time at COA, he saw the college grow and change, playing many roles in facilitating that evolution. In 1993, he stepped into the presidency role to shepherd the school into a new era of growth, technological advancement and further interconnectedness. 

To learn more about Katona’s journey to COA and his time as president, read through his oral history or browse the photos linked below. The Office of the President Records collection also holds valuable information about COA's presidents and their impacts on the school and community.