Dr. Dawn Kopacz

"Innovative Weather helped me by giving me the opportunity to apply my meteorological knowledge obtained in the classroom to real world situations. This was a great way to further my understanding and appreciation of the science. I also helped with training new interns and attended meetings with clients, which strengthened my personal and professional confidence."

Dawn Kopacz was with Innovative Weather for nearly four years, from January of 2008 through August of 2011. During that time, she worked thousands of hours, but one event in particular has stuck with her. "My most memorable forecasting experience was Thursday, July 22nd, 2010. In the morning there was a large area of moderate to heavy rain that moved through southern WI, leaving anywhere from 0.5-2 inches of rain across the area. During the afternoon hours, a round of strong to severe storms developed and moved through the area, and then the storms began training over the Milwaukee area through the evening hours. So in addition to lightning, winds and several tornadoes affecting portions of southern WI, there were torrential rains and flash flooding. Travel through the city of Milwaukee and nearby areas became dangerous and nearly impossible. Rainfall totals for the day ranged from 5-9 inches in many areas, including a report of 6.73 inches falling between 5:15-6:15pm at WTMJ-4 on Capitol Drive. It was a long but very exciting day!" Dawn gained hands-on experience forecasting at Innovative Weather, but it also offered her an opportunity to hone her communication skills in a professional setting. Dawn will complete her Ph.D. in Mathematics with an Atmospheric Science concentration in May 2015 and plans to teach at the college level. "I want to help students realize that math and science isn't just about memorizing theories and formulas, rather those equations and principles are tools that allow us to evaluate and understand our world. I want to help? students reach their academic and professional goals, and show them that a degree in meteorlogy can lead to many different career paths." In her spare time, Dawn enjoys sewing, outdoor activities like hiking and fishing, and spending quality time with her husband and their two-year old son.