The Center for Water Policy enters an exciting phase as it welcomes three new staff: Cora Sutherland and Rajpreet Grewal, the third cohort of postdoctoral water policy specialists through the UW Sea Grant Water Science-Policy Fellows Program, alongside the appointment of Erin Cross as the Center’s inaugural full-time Assistant Director. “We’re really excited to continue expanding our research capacity with Cora and Rajpreet joining the team while also increasing our ability to compete for grants, improve community engagement, and pursue our mission with Erin as Assistant Director,” said Melissa Scanlan, director for the Center and the Lynde B. Uihlein Endowed Chair and professor in water policy.
Over the next year, Cora and Rajpreet will produce original legal research and work with the Center’s external partners to analyze U.S. water issues to evaluate policy options and inform decision makers. This fellowship is intended to provide recent law school graduates with critical experience in the field of academic research and water policy development.
Cora earned a Juris Doctorate at the University of Oregon Law School and Rajpreet earned a Juris Doctorate and Master of Science in Water Management at the University of Wisconsin. Cora is excited to bring her prior experiences in renewable energy and environmental policy to create equitable solutions to emerging water and energy challenges in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins.
Rajpreet will be managing the Freshwater Collaborative System Water Policy Network, with support from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. “I’m eager to bring my connections within the University of Wisconsin System to expand collaboration within the Water Policy Network,” said Rajpreet.
Erin Cross brings her impressive 20-year background in management and administration to the Center as the Assistant Director. She previously served as the director of the Recreation Department with the City of New Berlin. Her extensive leadership experience, coupled with a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, positions Erin well to manage the Center’s operations. “I’m excited to bring my experiences developing inclusive programs and managing to accomplish strategic visions to a higher education environment dedicated to protecting freshwater,” said Erin.
Together, their collective expertise and varied backgrounds promise to elevate the Center’s research capacity, grant competitiveness, and community engagement.