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Stephen Leatherman

To the world, Stephen Leatherman (Grad ’74) is simply "Dr. Beach," known for his annual ranking of the nation’s sandy shores, a survey that invariably excites a media frenzy when it’s released around Memorial Day.

But "America’s Best Beaches" is more than just opinion and play. "I tried to think of everything you can measure about a beach and that would have some applicability to its environment—the physical factors, the biological factors and ‘the human use impact,’" says Leatherman, who earned a doctorate in environmental sciences from U.Va. "Opinion always comes back to the three S’s: sea, sand and sun. We try to go beyond that and find an objective approach that still takes into account the diverse desires of those who visit beaches."

This year’s top pick? Ocracoke Island, N.C.

Leatherman’s rating system is widely considered to be the best measure of a beach’s quality. He analyzes physical factors such as sand softness, wave size and strength, the water’s color and quality, and the presence of pests. He also looks at the impact of human use, taking into account the presence of lifeguards, visual obstructions and amenities. White sand, clear blue water and a good baguette stand are basic essentials for making Dr. Beach’s list.

It was while teaching at the University of Maryland that Leatherman earned his nickname. "I taught courses about the ways of beaches and coastal environments," he explains. "It sort of stuck after awhile."

Now with Florida International University in Miami, where he is a professor and director of the International Hurricane Center, Leatherman says he gets to express the lighter, fun side of serious research as Dr. Beach. (The New York Times describes him as a sort of "Jimmy Buffet meets Carl Sagan.")

To learn the whole story behind his beach rankings, visit www.drbeach.org. For more information about Leatherman’s research with the International Hurricane Center, visit www.ihc.fiu.edu.

© 2007 by the U.Va. Alumni Association