Watching our WRRC students graduate is always bittersweet, and this year is no exception. Five gifted students, connected in various ways to the Water Resources Research Center, will be graduating and moving on to exciting water-related careers. Jake Golden, who has been an outstanding contributor to WRRC efforts over the past two years, will be awarded his Master's in Water, Society, and Policy this May. He is seeking employment in the Western U.S. for water resource management and water supply planning. Valerisa Joe, who has been performing research in the laboratory of Jean McLain since she was an undergraduate in 2012, will be awarded her Ph.D. Val has been instrumental in developing molecular methods for water quality analysis and adapting food safety training materials for Arizona tribes. She is considering a job offer in the Southeastern U.S. Also from McLain's lab, Robert Lynch, who researched toxin-producing algae, will graduate with his Master's degree and will begin his career by conducting environmental assessments for a Florida consulting firm. Joel Atwood, a Coverdell Fellow working with the Water, Environmental, and Energy Solutions initiative will receive his Master's in Hydrology and then will move to Colorado to work for the USDA on snow research. Finally, Danielle Richard, who has been a valued Water Educator with Arizona Project WET since 2015, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and is currently seeking employment at the nexus of public health and environmental sciences.
Though bidding farewell will be sad, we are heartened to know that our water future is going to be in capable hands. Congratulations, graduates!