jmc

The volume of a sphere with radius $r$ is $\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$. Here, we have $\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3=36\pi$. Dividing both sides by $\frac{4}{3}\pi$ yields $r^3=27$; cube rooting both sides yields $r=3$. The surface area of a sphere with radius $r$ is $4\pi r^2$; here, our surface area is $4\pi (3^2)=\boxed{36\pi }$.