Two Water Policy Specialists Join Center for Water Policy

The Center for Water Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences has hired its first postdoc water policy specialists: Misbah Husain and Sarah Martinez. Both are Sea Grant UW Water Science-Policy Fellows.

During their year-long appointments, Husain and Martinez will work with the Center’s research teams and interact with the public and private sector to inform policy making. The position is designed to immerse emerging professionals in the dynamic world of applied research for multidisciplinary water policy solutions.

“We’re excited to build our research capacity and to mentor two new water professionals who will make an impact on water policy,” said Melissa Scanlan, director for the center and the Lynde B. Uihlein Endowed Chair and Professor in Water Policy.

Misbah Husain

Husain obtained his bachelor’s degree in environmental toxicology from UC-Davis and graduated from Boston College Law School with his juris doctorate and master of social work. At Boston College, he was selected to teach the undergraduate course in environmental law. He also participated in the BC Civil Rights Clinic, where he co-authored an amicus brief to submit to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in the case Smith v. City of Boston. The brief challenged the Boston Police Department’s use of a racially discriminatory police lieutenants’ examination, asserting that increased racial diversity in police leadership is necessary to reduce police violence inflicted on minorities. Husain also interned with the Cambridge Mental Health Court. He is excited to utilize the full array of his knowledge and experiences to promote equity, sustainability and well-being among the Great Lakes’ communities

Sarah Martinez

Martinez holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Utah in environmental studies and international studies. She is also a graduate of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law where she chaired her Student Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and held leadership positions in several student organizations, including serving as president of the Natural Resources Law Forum. Martinez completed clinical work with Utah Law’s Justice Lab Clinic and was awarded the David T. Lewis Experiential Award for Excellence in a Clinic. She externed with Clyde, Snow & Sessions’ Natural Resources Working Group, where she focused on water law and water banking projects. She has interned with the ACLU of Utah and Utah’s Indigent Defense Commission. She is excited to begin her legal career at the Center for Water Policy and hopes to pursue more work tailored to environmental justice.