Seventeen rising leaders from water and wastewater utilities across the United States graduated April 6 from the Nicholas School of the Environment鈥檚  (WILD) continuing education program. This is the fifth cohort of water professionals to complete the WILD program since 2020.

The WILD program introduces mid-career professionals to new approaches and resources for addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the water services sector today, from funding shortfalls and aging infrastructure to climate impacts and population growth planning.

Over the course of the program, WILD fellows take part in monthly online sessions and two intensive three-day workshops at 51爆料鈥檚 Durham campus. Industry experts and leading researchers facilitate the sessions and workshops and provide coaching to fellows, but peer-to-peer learning is also important, said Martin Doyle, professor of river systems science and policy at the Nicholas School and faculty lead on WILD.

鈥淭he idea is to help emerging leaders build a network of peers they can brainstorm with and seek advice from, even long after the program ends,鈥 Doyle said.

Generous support from program funders covered each fellow鈥檚 tuition, travel and lodging costs 鈥 a package valued at about $14,000.

The 17 new WILD graduates are:

  • Melody Bailey, Water Resources Manager, Mojave Water Agency, Apple Valley, California  
  • Janelle Boelter, Director of Infrastructure Management, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Las Vegas, Nevada 
  • Mark A. Coughlin, Section Manager, WSSC Water, Detroit Michigan   
  • Jorge L. Flores, Assistant General Manager, City of Eagle Pass Water Works System, Eagle Pass, Texas
  • Neha Ghaisas, Environmental Engineer/Design Project Manager, Philadelphia Water Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Anjali Gupta, Operations Program Manager, DC Water, Washington, District of Columbia
  • Joel Lemke, Director of Public Utilities and Transportation, City of Stevens Point, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
  • Quisha Light, Interim Director, Portland Water Bureau, Portland, Oregon
  • Lily Lopez, Director of External Affairs & Sustainability, Walnut Valley Water District, Walnut, California
  • Jackie McCloud, Special Assistant to the General Manager, Alameda County Water District, Watsonville, California
  • Emily Meek, Assistant Director of Utilities, City of Brighton, Brighton, Colorado
  • Charles L. Moore, Water Maintenance Coordinator, City of Colombus Department of Public Utilities, Colombus, Ohio
  • Sean Owens, Facilities Operator Supervisor, Central Arkansas Water, Little Rock, Arkansas
  • Eddie Paulino, Senior Civil Engineer, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
  • Jamie Safulko, Client Services Manager, PCL Construction, Englewood, Colorado
  • Corwin L. Washington, Utility Senior Services Manager 鈥 Stormwater Division, Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Yan Zhang, Senior Director of Water Quality and Process, City of Long Beach Utility Services, Long Beach, California

During the program, all graduates completed an individual capstone project, either as part of their existing job or as professional development, that enabled them to apply their new leadership skills and knowledge or advance their career goals.

WILD graduates earn a Certificate of Completion from the Nicholas School.

For more information about the WILD program, contact the Environment+ team at dukeenvironplus@duke.edu