Our Team

Angus Aney

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team: Project Management; Western Water Network
Role: Project Manager
Expertise: Soil mapping, GIS & remote sensing, program coordination

Angus Aney is a soil scientist with experience and training in GIS and remote sensing. He holds a B.S. degree in Soil Science with a minor in Range Science, and a Master of Applied Geography, both from New Mexico State University. Angus currently works for the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute. Previously, he served as the USDA Southwest Climate Hub Coordinator, and team lead for the extension arm of the USDA-NIFA funded Sustainable Southwest Beef Project (Grant #2019-69012-29853). In his work as a soil scientist, Angus mapped soils, primarily for irrigation suitability, across five states in the western US.

Alexander (Sam) Fernald

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team Data-driven Water Budgets and Community Accessible Decision Tools; Project Management; Water Manager Certification Program; Water Technician Training; Water Network
Role: Project Director
Expertise: Coupled human and hydrologic systems; water quality hydrology; land use effects on infiltration, runoff, sediment yield, and nonpoint source pollution; and effects of surface water/groundwater exchange on water availability and water quality

Alexander “Sam” G. Fernald directs the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI). As director, he leads the Institute in its mission to develop and disseminate knowledge that will assist the state, region, and nation in solving water resources problems. Dr. Fernald also chairs the Water Science and Management Graduate degree program, where he establishes, initiates, and leads all academic, programmatic, budgetary, administrative, and instructional aspects of the program. Additionally, he is a professor of Watershed Management at the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University.

Robert Sabie

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Projet Team Agricultural Systems; Project Management
Role: Research Coordinator
Expertise: Remote sensing; land use/land cover change; system science

Bob Sabie is a research scientist at the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI), where he has worked since 2014. In his role, he manages the Institute’s GIS laboratory and contributes across a broad range of activities, including proposal development, leading scientific teams, advising graduate students, conducting research, and serving on advisory committees. His research interests include using remote sensing for land use change and estimating evapotranspiration, geospatial analysis of agricultural water use, and developing system science approaches for solving water issues. Bob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and Planning from Western Washington University and a Master of Applied Geography from New Mexico State University. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Water Science and Management program at NMSU and is nearing completion of his degree.

Kendra Kaiser

University of Idaho
Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment; Ethnographic Community Assessment; Water Systems
Role: Co-PD; Idaho Site Lead
Expertise: watershed hydrology

Kendra Kaiser is the Director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute and Assistant Professor in the Soil and Water Systems Department at the University of Idaho. She is a watershed hydrologist that creates actionable research with stakeholders across sectors, with a focus on agricultural water use and management. She develops dynamic open-source data visualizations, tools, and resources that facilitate decision-making using a wide range of data products and methods.

Robert Heinse

University of Idaho

Project Team: Western Water Network
Role: Scientist
Expertise: Water Resources, Soil Science

Robert Heinse is Professor of Soil and Environmental Physics in the Soil and Water Systems Department at the University of Idaho. His research interests revolve around water in the soil environment and the characterization using geophysical methods. He is a past director of the interdisciplinary water resources program.

Staci Emm

University of Nevada, Reno

Indian Land Tenure, USDA program access and tribal agricultural water rights

Project Team: Ethnographic Community Assessment; Tribal Involvement; Water Systems
Role: Extension; Nevada Site Lead
Expertise: Ethnographic Community Assessment; Tribal Involvement; Water Systems

Professor - Extension - Reno, NV Staci Emm leads University of Nevada, Reno Extension's Tribal Programs. Staci is a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and grew up on the Walker River Reservation in a generational farming and ranching family. She began her career with Extension's Federally Recognized Tribes Extension Program (FRTEP) in July of 2000. Staci works at national, regional and local levels to provide education in Indian Land Tenure and tribal water rights.

Alejandro Andrade Rodriguez

University of Nevada, Reno

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role: Scientist
Expertise:

Dan Coen

University of Nevada, Reno

Project Team: Tribal Involvement
Role: Extension
Expertise: Access to state and federal programs, student programming, small business development, and on-reservation Extension programming.

Daniel Coen holds a M.A.T and a bachelor's degree in history from Georgia State University. He retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2020 after 28 years of service. After retiring, he began with Extension as the overall project mentor for the newly developed Tribal Students Program. He now coordinates Extension's statewide Tribal programs and works with grant teams and tribal communities to identify funding opportunities and additional offerings.

Bret Hess

University of Nevada, Reno

Project Team: Western Water Network
Role: Collaborator
Expertise:

Fnu (Khushi) Khushi

University of Nevada, Reno

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role: Graduate Student
Expertise: Irrigation scheduling, Crop Modelling

Khushi is a PhD student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is a member of the Precision Irrigation Management Lab, where her research focuses on precision water management integrated with crop modeling techniques for alfalfa. Her work also involves developing tools to help farmers optimize irrigation practices, reduce water use, and maintain crop yields.

Allison Moreno

University of Nevada, Reno

Project Team: Tribal Involvement
Role: Extension
Expertise:

Juan Solomon

University of Nevada, Reno

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role Scientist
Expertise:

Olufemi Adebayo

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role Post-Doctoral Researcher
Expertise: Soil health

Olufemi Adebayo is a soil scientist who earned his PhD in Plant and Environmental Sciences from New Mexico State University. His research centers on sustainable agriculture in semi-arid agroecosystems, with a focus on how compost application and cover cropping influence soil health, soil water dynamics, nutrient cycling, and crop productivity in water-limited environments.

Anik Alvi

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team: Facilitated Technical Support; Project Management
Role: Technical Data Support
Expertise: Technical Data Support

Data-driven professional with strong expertise in data analysis, machine learning, and software development. Have good knowledge in Python and SQL Programming Languages and also skilled in Cloud Computing with a strong foundation in Big Data Engineering and Predictive Modeling. A quick learner with ability to absorb new ideas as well as communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing within a team environment or an individual basis.

Hamid Balali

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team: Integrated System-Based Modeling
Role: Scientist
Expertise: System Dynamics Modelling

Hamid Balali, PhD, is a Resource Economist focusing on water resources, with expertise in System Dynamics. His research centers on the interdisciplinary study of climate change impacts on agriculture and water systems, as well as on communities and environmental and economic systems. He examines how climate change affects the interconnected water–agriculture–community nexus and explores ways to enhance their resilience.

Salim Bawazir

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Agricultural Systems; Water Manager Certification Program; Water Technician Training
Role: Scientist
Expertise:

Rachel Boren

New Mexico State University, SOAR Evaluation and Policy Center,

Project Team: Project Management
Role Evaluator
Expertise: Program Evaluation, Technical Writing, Data Collection and Analysis

Rachel Boren earned her Ph.D. in Educational Research, Statistics, and Evaluation from the University of Virginia, where she was trained in program evaluation and research methods in education and the social sciences. She has a diverse portfolio of training and experience with program evaluation and research in education and healthcare, most recently as an evaluator for the Provost’s Office at the University of Texas at El Paso and the Director of Evaluation for a 70 million-dollar National Institutes of Health funded center based at the University of Washington. She has experience assessing student learning and other outcomes for K-12 and higher education populations, including both two and four-year college environments all over the country, and ensuring programs have strong evaluation plans and the necessary data for evidence based decision-making.

Holly Brause

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Ethnographic Community Assessment
Role Co-PD
Expertise: Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Anthropology, Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis

Dr. Holly Brause is a cultural anthropologist specializing in environmental anthropology, transboundary water resources, climate change and natural resource management, food and agriculture, and the politics and practices of future-making. Her geographical focuses are the US Southwest, the US/Mexico border, New Mexico, Mexico, and Latin America.

Jeffrey Buras

New Mexico State University Innovative Media Research and Extension

Project Team: Extension Animation and Videos
Role: Social Media Specialist
Expertise: Communications

Extension Animation and Videos
Area(s) of Expertise: Communications

Jeffrey Buras helps spread messages through social media and supports extension offices with their outreach. Originally from Houston, Jeffrey also spent a decade in the media industry in Austin and Washington DC. Jeffrey received a bachelor’s degree in Communications from American University and a certificate in Agroecology from the University of the District of Columbia, as well as community garden leadership training from the Sustainable Food Center.

Reanna Burnett

New Mexico State University, USDA Southwest Climate Hub

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment
Role: Educational Resources Production
Expertise: Creative media

Reanna Burnett has been with the Southwest Climate Hub since 2018, where she helps to develop outreach materials. She has an AAS in Creative Media Technology and Game Design. In her role in RAWCS she will be supporting the Conservation Readiness Assessment.

Ryan Burns

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role GIS Support
Expertise:

Barbara Chamberlin

New Mexico State University,
Innovative Media Research and Extension

Project Team: Extension Animation and Videos; Interactive Water Management Game
Role Co-PD
Expertise: Educational technology and development of learning media.

Barbara Chamberlin directs the Innovative Media Research and Extension department, including developers of games, videos, animations and communication through web and social media. Her PhD is in Educational Technology, with research emphases in media development, user testing, and models for instructional design.

Huidae Cho

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Water Systems
Role: Scientist
Expertise:

David Dubois

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment; Data-driven Water Budgets and Community Accessible Decision Tools
Role: Scientist
Expertise: climate; climate change; weather data

Dave DuBois is the State Climatologist and Associate College Professor at New Mexico State University. Dave chairs the New Mexico Drought Monitoring Workgroup for the Governor’s Drought Task Force and directs the New Mexico Climate Center. He also oversees the ZiaMet mesonet, a network of 200 automated surface weather stations throughout the state. He has over 30 years of experience working in the field and holds a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Nevada Reno.

Richard Heerema

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Agricultural Systems; Extension
Role: Extension
Expertise:

Richard Heerema received his Ph.D. in Plant Biology (Pomology) from UC Davis in 2005. For 20 years, he has served as Extension Pecan & Pistachio Specialist at New Mexico State University. His research focuses on tree-nut production issues such as alternate bearing, fertilizer usage, irrigation efficiency, and rootstock performance. Dr. Heerema’s extension responsibilities include relaying research to tree-nut producers and directly assisting orchardists with production problems through such outlets as articles in trade publications, a Pecan Production Short Course, and the Western Pecan Growers Association Conference, and a webinar series.

Omololu "John" Idowu

New Mexico State University,
Department of Extension Plant Sciences

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role Co-PD
Expertise: Soil Health

Dr. Idowu is a professor and Extension Agronomist at New Mexico State University. His work encompasses a holistic approach to soil and crop management to improve soil health, enhance crop production, and protect the environment. His efforts aim to increase soil organic matter to make soils in arid and semiarid regions more resilient to weather variability and recurrent droughts, including conducting research on various soil health practices and disseminating information to producers and stakeholders. He has also investigated the agronomic optimization of field crops such as cotton, corn, alfalfa, pinto beans, and guar, through reduced tillage practices, fertilization, and irrigation water management. He earned his master's degree in Agronomy from the University of Gottingen in Germany and his doctorate in Land Management from Cranfield University in England.

Eusebio Ingol-Blanco

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Water Manager Certification Program; Water Technician Training
Role: Education Lead
Expertise:

Emily Kambalame

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Regional Economic Modeling
Role: Graduate Student
Expertise: Hydroeconomics modeling, Optimisation, Water Policy, Resource Economics, Water Engineering, and Irrigation

Emily Kambalame is a PhD scholar in Water Science and Management (Economics and Policy) at New Mexico State University, with an MSc in Water Engineering and a BSc in Irrigation Engineering. Her research focuses on hydroeconomic modeling, integrating hydrology and economics to develop strategies for equitable and efficient water allocation. By bridging technical expertise with policy insight, she seeks to transform water management into sustainable solutions that address scarcity, competing demands, and long-term resource security.

Connie Maxwell

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment
Role: Scientist
Expertise: Community and watershed-based planning

Connie Maxwell is an ecological planner and water scientist that works with communities on local and regional levels. At New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, most recently, she has been working with communities in regions around New Mexico on watershed restoration and long-term planning frameworks that can mitigate climate challenges, including with the South Central NM Stormwater Management Coalition and the New Mexico Acequia Association. Maxwell received her doctorate from NMSU in Water Science and Management, a Master’s degree from UNM in Community and Regional Planning with a concentration in Natural Resources, and a bachelor’s in English and Architecture from Columbia University.

Amy Muise

New Mexico State University Innovative Media Research and Extension

Project Team: Extension Animation and Videos; Interactive Water Management Game
Role: Instructional Designer
Expertise: Educational games, social media, digital media

Amy Smith Muise is an instructional designer in the Learning Games Lab, Department of Innovative Media, Research & Extension, New Mexico State University. She focuses on crafting and distributing educational outreach content via engaging multimedia, to reach audiences in Extension, STEM education, and agricultural production/processing environments.

Anushka Perera

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Agricultural Systems
Role: Graduate Student
Expertise:

Madan Pokhrel

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Water Systems
Role: Graduate Student
Expertise: Hydrologic modeling, water resources engineering

Madan Pokhrel is a PhD student in the Department of Civil Engineering at New Mexico State University with experience in Water Resources Engineering. He is working in the Computational Lab for Advanced Water Resources Informatics and Modelling (CLAWRIM). His areas of interest include hydrological modeling, the application of remote sensing in hydrology, and optimization.

Paige Ramsey

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment
Role: Outreach Support
Expertise: GIS & Spatial Analysis; Geography; Science Synthesis; Outreach

Paige Ramsey is a Program Specialist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service based at the Jornada Experimental Range in Las Cruces, NM. She holds a BS in Geography from New Mexico State University and a MS in Geographic Information Science from the University of Denver. Her research interests include land use and climate change impacts on rangelands and agricultural communities in the Southwestern United States.

Kimberly Sanchez

New Mexico State University, New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute

Project Team: Ethnographic Community Assessment k
Role: Post-Doctoral Researcher
Expertise: Environmental Anthropology

Dr. Kimberly Sanchez is an socio-cultural anthropologist who studies the relationship between humans and their environments across space and time using qualitative and archival data. Her research focuses on natural resource use and management, food production, and socio-political dynamics of pastoralists and ranchers in the Western US and Mongolia. She received bachelors degrees in Anthropology and Russian from the University of Wyoming and a doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Michigan.

Noah Silber-Coats

New Mexico State University, USDA Southwest Climate Hub

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment
Role: Post-Doctoral Researcher
Expertise: Water policy; Alternative crops; Science translation; Geography

Noah Silber-Coats has been with the Southwest Climate Hub since 2022, where he leads development of the Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas (WATA). This tool documents practices for adapting to water scarcity and related issues across the region. He is trained as a human-environment geographer with MA and PhD from the University of Arizona, and is based in Tucson.

Caiti Steele

New Mexico State University, USDA Southwest Climate Hub

Project Team: Conservation Readiness Assessment
Role: Co-PD
Expertise:

Tomilee Turner

New Mexico State University Innovative Media Research and Extension

Project Team: Extension Animation and Videos
Role: Instructional Designer, Video
Expertise: Video production

Tomilee Turner manages IMRE's video unit and specializes in producing educational featurettes tailored for each project's target audience. She has over 30 years experience working with experts in a wide range of agricultural disciplines. Delivering their messages using creative, quality video and audio is her goal.

Frank Ward

New Mexico State University

Project Team: Regional Economic Modeling
Role: Scientist
Expertise:

Ginger Paige

University of Wyoming

Project Team: Water Systems; Western Water Network
Role: Scientist
Expertise: Watershed hydrology and water budgets

Ginger Paige is a Professor of Water Resources and Water Resource Extension Specialist, in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Wyoming. Ginger is a watershed hydrologist with expertise in measurement and modeling of hydrologic processes. She works with agencies, watershed groups, tribes and individuals across the state and region to improve water resource monitoring, management and assessment.

Upmanu Lall

Arizona State University

Project Team: Data-driven Water Budgets and Community Accessible Decision Tools
Role: Scientist
Expertise: Hydrology, Climate, Systems Analysis

Upmanu Lall is an Indian American engineer and the founding director of the Water Institute at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University in Tempe. He studies how to solve water scarcity and how to predict and mitigate floods. In 2014, he was awarded the Henry Darcy Medal by the European Geosciences Union. He was named an American Geophysical Union Fellow in 2017 and their Walter Langbein Lecturer in 2022.

Sujay Kumar

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Project Team: Data-driven Water Budgets and Community Accessible Decision Tools
Role: Scientist
Expertise:

Kim A. Locke

SAIC/ NASA GSFC Hydrology Lab

Project Team: Data-driven Water Budgets and Community Accessible Decision Tools
Role: Scientist
Expertise: Water availability data product co-development; stakeholder engagement, partnerships

Kim is a Senior Research Scientist with NASA Goddard's Hydrological Sciences Laboratory, leading collaborations and engagement efforts for the NASA Water Insight project, including the NLDAS-3 and NASA HydroGlobe water, land and agriculture integrated remote sensing and modeling systems. Kim facilitates the use of Earth observations for more sustainable agriculture, water resources and land management by connecting NASA data experts with decision makers and data users.

Stella Aude

Extension graphics

Emile Elias

Conservation Readiness Assessment

Katherine Fernald

Conservation Readiness Assessment

Jeanette Torres

Program Management