Tom is available for public speaking engagements, visiting scholarship/educational opportunities, media requests and interviews, writing for publications and books, as well as other consultation opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS
WATER RESOURCES EXPERT
- Has been interviewed for news networks in Colorado (ABC, CBS, NBC), National networks (CNN and Fox News), and International (Al Jazeera America) talking about water issues, population growth, and environmental protection issues.
- Interviewed by NPR, Colorado Public Radio (CPR), 850KOA (Colorado), guest speaker on podcasts
- Interviewed and quoted in print media such as The Christian Science Monitor, Denver Post, Colorado Independent, Greeley Tribune, Colorado Springs Gazette, Fort Collins Coloradoan, Omaha World Herald, and Irrigation Age Magazine.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
- Guest lecturer at the University of Colorado, University of Denver, Colorado State University, University of Iowa, Malta University (Malta), Universita di Firenze (Italy), Universita per Stranieri di Perugia (Italy), and the University of Bergen (Norway)
- Speaker at professional conferences in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas, Washington, D.C., Wyoming, Alberta, Canada, and Bergen, Norway.
TEACHING
Extensive achievement in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels – in the classroom, as a visiting scholar, online and in the field. Started graduate-level courses in water resources, written college-level textbooks adopted internationally, and served on numerous academic committees on natural resources issues.
EDUCATION INNOVATION
- Developed first-ever water resources curriculum for pre-school through high school students, with assistance of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants and faculty from the University of Northern Colorado
- Developed the first-ever Children’s Water Festival in Colorado – a one-day event for 4th & 5th grade students and their teachers. Over 20,000 students have attended since 1991.
- Co-chair of the Water Education Committee of the Colorado Water Congress
- Assisted with development of the Poudre Learning Center near Greeley, a K-12 outdoor environmental education center in partnership with the University of Northern Colorado and area school districts
- Assisted with creation and legislative funding for the Colorado Foundation for Water Education
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
- Developing joint water quantity/quality study with the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service
- Administered U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Sustainable Agriculture Project with scientists from Colorado State University and faculty from the University of Northern Colorado
- Assisted with water quality research along the South Platte River
RESEARCH
- Participated in numerous research efforts conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado State University, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board
- Research topics included natural resources issues such as water quantity, water quality, urban growth, sustainable agriculture practices, and public water education
FUNDRAISING
- Responsible for preparation and administration of annual $3.5 million budget, and monitored grants, loans, and bond issues in excess of $40 million
- Have worked to acquire in excess of $3,000,000 in federal and state grants
- Developed and administered approximately $2,000,000 of federal grants for water quality and water education research, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
COLLABORATION / LEADERSHIP
- Served as advocate and assisted with numerous Colorado water initiatives, such as creation of the Colorado Foundation of Water Education
- Participant in numerous Colorado State University water research projects
- Worked with various stakeholders on issues such as Colorado water rights, natural resources protection, public education, and fundraising
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
- Supervised staff of fourteen and three part-time college students, seven water attorneys, three water resource engineering consulting firms and two accounting groups.
- Extensive team-building, project management, supervisory, and team coaching skills. Developed staff from only two employees to fourteen due to extensive district growth.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Co-Director, One World One Water Center, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado
- Executive Director, Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, Greeley, Colorado
- Faculty Affiliate, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
- Adjunct Professor, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado