KWI Working Group
On Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, more than 75 K-State faculty from every college and campus participated in a workshop to discuss elevating and coordinating K-State's role in addressing our water resource challenges. An interdisciplinary working group was formed after this workshop to develop the plan to launch the Kansas Water Institute at K-State.
- Jim Bloodgood, College of Business Administration.
- Hans Coetzee, Office of the Vice President for Research.
- Chris Culbertson, College of Arts and Sciences.
- Stacy Hutchinson, Carl R. Ice College of Engineering.
- Michael McClure, College of Architecture, Planning, & Design.
- Brett Mallon, College of Health and Human Sciences.
- Susan Metzger, Office of the President and KCARE/KWRI.
- Beth Montelone, Office of the Vice President for Research.
- Brian Olson, K-State Research and Extension.
- Michael Pritchard, K-State Salina.
- Susan Rensing, Staley School for Leadership Studies.
- Ennis Rios, College of Education.
- Jane Schuh, College of Agriculture.
- Cyndi Shuman, College of Education.
- Ben Wolfe, K-State Olathe.
Working group members will continue their efforts together to identify themes and priorities around which to organize and focus the work under the university-level Kansas Water Institute. These themes will align with the water-related challenges of the state and the nation. Research coordinated through the institute will span from fundamental science to field-scale adoption.
KWI Advisory Council
The Kansas Water Institute's partnerships build upon a collaborative advisory council that includes representation from KBOR universities and other state institutions.
- Rachel Bowes, Emporia State University
- Jim Butler, Kansas Geological Survey
- Grady Dixon, Fort Hays State University
- Randy Hayzlett, Groundwater Management District #3
- Tara Lanzrath, Kansas Department of Agriculture (Division of Water Resources)
- Nathan Nelson, Kansas State University
- Connie Owen, Kansas Water Office
- Kayla Savage, Kansas Department of Commerce
- Marcia Schulmeister, University of Kansas
- Aleksey Sheshukov, Kansas State University
- Wesley Streeter, Pittsburg State University
- Matt Unruh, Kansas Water Office
- Nicholas Willis, Wichita State University
Supporting new partnership positions
The Kansas Water Institute welcomes a new partner to the team! As University Water Officer at Fort Hays State University, Satya Sinha will be supporting efforts to improve state water quality and water quantity, while working with the university and surrounding communities to support related projects.
With over 30 years of experience, Satya excels in applying technical knowledge to solve business challenges. During his long career as an engineering geologist, he developed and implemented EHS Management Systems for major Oil & Gas companies in North America and Australia. His work with stakeholder engagement helped him to manage diverse project portfolios, including Superfund sites, and to resolve environmental issues through decision analysis and regulatory negotiations.
A graduate of Fort Hays State University, Satya said that he looks forward to this new position, as it will allow him to make impacts on the future of water in Kansas.
“This work will be interesting and challenging in many ways,” he said. “Small victories will turn into big victories.”