Francisco Chavez has had an illustrious career in biological oceanography. He is a Senior Scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), where he has been on staff for 20 years.

Born and raised in Talara, Peru, Chavez graduated from HSU in 1977. At MBARI, he pioneered new types of research and played a pivotal role in that institution's success almost since its founding. He sits on numerous ocean and marine observation boards, contributing to our knowledge of and protection of coastal resources. Because HSU is also represented in many of these organizations, Chavez has directly and indirectly contributed to HSU developing effective regional collaborations.

In 2005, Chavez was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his research on the impact of climate variability on oceanic ecosystems and global carbon cycling. Such Fellows are elected for "significant contributions in areas such as research, teaching, technology, services to professional societies, and the communication of science to the public."