SEWARD -- Tara Riemer Jones can remove the word "interim" from her title.

The Board of Directors at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward has named Jones the new president and CEO. She's held the interim title since November.

Jones was selected after a nationwide search.

A release from the center says Jones earned a doctorate in biomedical engineering from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

She has previously worked as a strategic management consultant for McKinsey and Co. in Boston and Auckland, New Zealand.

Jones began working at the Alaska SeaLife Center in 2003, most recently as chief operating officer.