Bill Straus is a former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the town of Mattapoisett. He served in the House from 1993 through 2024. He did not run for re-election in 2024. He worked on a number of legislative committees during that time including as House Chair of Environment and Natural Resources from 2009 to 2010, and House Chair of Transportation from 2011 through 2024.
Bill has held a number of other public positions. From 2011 through 2024 he was co-chair of the UMass Amherst Oversight Board for the Cranberry Research station in Wareham. He was a public member of the Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Facility Site Safety Council pursuant to chapter 21D from 1987 through 1992, a member of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission from 1989 through 1992, and an Assistant District Attorney in Bristol County from 1982 through 1988.
From 2006 through 2016 he was an Adjunct Lecturer at the Boston University Law School. He was engaged in the private practice of law with an office in New Bedford until 2021.
Bill Straus received a BA from Middlebury College, his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, and a Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
- Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering from U.S. Coast Guard Academy
- Master of Engineering in Naval Architecture from University of California, Berkeley
- Master of Science in Operations Research from University of California, Berkeley
- Master of Science in Environmental Management from University of San Francisco
- DSc in Engineering Management from the George Washington University
- Certified as Project Management Professional®
- Served 26 years in US Coast Guard (retired as Captain)
- Teaching: Supply Chain Management, Project Management, Statistics
- Research: Risk Analysis, Expert Judgment, Project Management, Leadership
- LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulszwed/
Mary Regina Thomann (formerly Sullivan) graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation as part of the Academy’s first class of women. Mary was inspired to attend the Academy by her love of the sea and by the accomplishments of her two paternal Aunts, Captains Elinor and Mary Rose Sullivan, U.S. Navy. In 1992, she received a Master of Business Administration degree from Rivier College in Nashua, N.H.
Since 1983, Mary has worked in the Human Resources field gaining diverse global business experience in both corporate and manufacturing environments. She has a track record of successfully recruiting highly skilled technical staff, improving staff morale, and coaching and partnering effectively with senior executives. Since 2011, Mary has been providing Human Resources Consulting Services.
In 2014, inspired by the registered nurses in her life, including her mother, grandmother, and aunts, Mary earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing at the now Rivier University in Nashua, N.H. and obtained her Registered Nurse Certification. She currently works part-time as a per diem R.N. at a Long-Term Care skilled nursing facility.
In December of 2016, together with the other women from the Class of 1981, Mary was honored to receive the Emery Rice medal in recognition of having graduated in the first class of women at the Academy. Mary is a Member of the Society for Human Resources Management and the American Association of Nurses. She volunteers at Nevins Farm MSPCA in Methuen, MA.
Mary grew up in Roslindale, Massachusetts as the oldest of 12 children and daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James E. Sullivan. She now resides in Dracut, Massachusetts with husband Gary, a Sales Engineer, and dog Bilbo. They enjoy spending time on and around the North Atlantic Ocean whenever possible.
- Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology Engineering from Shandong University, China
- Master of Science in Finance from Sam Houston State University
- Master of Science and Ph.D. in Financial Economics from University of New Orleans
- Dr. Shu Tian is an associate professor of Finance in the department of International Maritime Business. She started teaching at the Academy in 2010. Her teaching interests lie in Investment, International Finance, Corporate Finance, Options and Futures, and Personal Finance. She has taught various business courses, such as Principles of Finance, Accounting, Macro/Microeconomics, Business Computation, and Statistics for Managers. Dr. Tian’s research focuses on Investment, International Finance, Market Microstructure, and Behavioral Finance.
