![[Water Resources Program]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/waterresourceprog.gif "[Water Resources Program]"){kind=small}
Staff
Christopher
C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E is the
Extension Specialist in Water Resources with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and he is an Associate Professor with the Department
of Environmental Sciences at Cook College, Rutgers University. He has
a doctorate in Civil Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology,
a M.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, and
a B.S. in Civil Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Prior
to joining Rutgers, Dr. Obropta was an environmental consultant for 12
years at Omni Environmental Corporation. Dr. Obropta has a background
in watershed management, water quality modeling, hydrologic and hydraulic
modeling, and coastal engineering. His specific experience includes watershed
restoration, onsite wastewater treatment system design and management,
wasteload allocations and TMDL studies, stormwater management, wetland
design, effluent dilution analyses, longshore sediment transport, computer-aided
design, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He teaches Bioresource
Engineering Design I & II, where he directs student design teams to
develop solutions to complex real-life engineering problems.
With his extensive and impressive background Dr. Obropta leads his highly specialized team of Program Associates who are determined to create innovative solutions to water quality issues in New Jersey.
732-932-9800 x 6209 obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu
Lisa
Galloway Evrard has an extensive background in aquatic biology,
water quality modeling and monitoring, statistical data analysis, and
education. After graduating from Lehigh University with a B.A. in Biology
and a M.S. in Ecology from Rutgers University, she worked as an environmental
consultant for ten years. Her work as an environmental consultant focused
on the development, implementation, and analysis of biological and physicochemical
stream assessment and modeling studies, the development of site-specific
water quality criteria and modification of permit limits, as well as the
preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.
Prior to joining the Water Resources Program in 2002, she was the Assistant
Director of the Math & Science Learning Center and the Transfer Student
Coordinator for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Transfer Student Office
at Rutgers University for four years. She was instrumental in the implementation
of science education outreach programs for students and teachers in grades
K-12 at the Math & Science Learning Center. She was also instrumental
in developing and providing academic support services for new transfer
students to the University, especially those enrolled in math and/or science
courses. Her role in the Water Resources Program is to develop and implement
Extension water quality and outreach programs, among other watershed management
programs. Additionally, Ms. Evrard’s background in water quality
monitoring and biological assessments proves to be invaluable in our watershed
assessment efforts.
732-932-9800 x 6130 evrard@rci.rutgers.edu
Sandra
Goodrow began as a Program Associate with the Water Resources
Program in 2004. For the five years prior to joining the staff she studied
environmental chemistry and pollutant modeling. She graduated with a B.S.
in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, Cook College with Highest
Honors in 2001. During her time at Rutgers she interned at the National
Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration and the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection. She received her M.S. in Environmental Science
from Rutgers University in 2003 with research focusing on the beneficial
use of dredged sediment and the modeling of the fate and effects of potential
contaminants. Ms. Goodrow’s primary role with the Water Resources
Program is the development of three regional stormwater management plans.
The first of their kind in New Jersey, the regional plans are anticipated
to serve as models that can be replicated throughout the State. For these
plans, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling is performed to examine flooding
issues in the watershed. These models are coupled with nonpoint source
pollution modeling to address water quality conditions in the drainage
area. These plans will be devised to identify specific solutions to address
the water quality and water quantity issues that the watershed faces.
In addition, Ms. Goodrow provides technical support to the Water Resources
Program with knowledge of pollutant fate and transport and statistical
data analysis.
732-932-9800 x 6125 sgoodrow@envsci.rutgers.edu
Gregory
Rusciano received a B.S. in Bioresource Engineering (dual-degree,
five-year) from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2004. He
received his M.S. in Bioresource Engineering from Rutgers in 2006 with
research focusing on regional stormwater management planning and the performance efficiency of bioretention systems in removing fecal indicator bacteria from water. Prior to becoming a Program Associate with the Water
Resources Program, Gregory served as a Graduate Assistant with the Water
Resources Program. In this role, he assisted with the Bioresource Engineering Design course and in several water resources related research projects, including the analysis of water quality trading in the Raritan River Basin. Gregory has also has served as a Student Intern with the Solid
Waste Policy Group at Rutgers, assisting with projects in hazardous waste
management and green purchasing. He also has experience working as an
environmental field technician with a private consulting firm, assisting
with groundwater remediation projects. As a Program Associate with
the Water Resources Program, Gregory helps coordinate working groups in animal waste management on small farms, onsite wastewater treatment systems management, nutrient management, and watershed management across Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands). He also helps coordinate the Stormwater Management in Your Backyard and Restore-a-Waterway extension education initiatives for homeowners and volunteer organizations, respectively.
732-932-9800 x 6130 greg.rusciano@rutgers.edu
Robert Miskewitz, Ph.D., Senior Project Manager, has a background
in water quality modeling, hydrodynamic modeling, fate and transport of
airborne and aquatic environmental contaminants, statistical modeling
of environmental systems, and contaminated sediment treatment technologies.
He has Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Environmental Engineering from Stevens
Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Ecology from the Pennsylvania State
University. Dr. Miskewitz gained experience in contaminated site assessment
and hazardous waste treatment while working as a consultant for a private
environmental consulting firm for three years. He then served as a Research
Engineer at Stevens for five years. During this time he worked on several
projects that investigated the fate and transport of water, sediments,
and contaminants in the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary, effluent dilution from various
coastal and estuarine outfalls, the effects of tidal marshland on the
structure of the tides and tidal currents in the Hackensack Meadowlands,
and fluxes of PCBs to the atmosphere from stabilized dredged sediment.
He was also an instructor for E243 Probability and Statistics for Engineers
at Stevens for three semesters.
732-932-9800 x 6126 rmiskewitz@aesop.rutgers.edu
Cheryl Burdick comes to the Water Resources Program from an admissions background. As an administrative assistant she provides support to the WRP staff and constituents. She holds a BA in Communications from Houghton College and a MPS in Community Services Administration from Alfred University. She was the Director of Admissions at The King’s College and the Dean of Enrollment Management at Somerset Christian College. With 23 years of working in higher education, she brings an understanding of the internal and external functions of the collegiate setting.
732-932-9800 x 6106 cburdick@cep.rutgers.edu
Sean Walsh, Program Associate, graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Bioresource Engineering from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2005. He is continuing his education as a Graduate Student at Rutgers University on a part-time basis. Sean has extensive experience using CAD to develop construction plans. As an undergraduate student, Sean collaborated with Christopher Obropta and a team of educational experts to develop an 8th grade ecology curriculum based on storm water management techniques. Prior to joining the Water Resources Program in November 2006, Sean worked at a private consulting firm specializing in solid waste management and site design. Sean designed stormwater management systems for landfills and other solid waste related sites. He conducted annual stormwater inspections for four different transfer stations/material recovery facilities throughout the year. As a Program Associate with the Water Resources Program, Sean’s primary role will be working with the Assistant Extension Specialist in Water Resources to prepare engineering plans for various stormwater management systems throughout New Jersey.
732-932-9800 x 6126 swalsh@envsci.rutgers.edu
Elaine Rossi, Program Coordinator, has an extensive background in higher education program and project management. She is responsible for developing action plans and ensuring the timely completion of all contracted deliverables. Ms. Rossi is also responsible for contributing to survey design, implementation, and impact reporting. She coordinates public relation efforts among industry leaders, trade associations, and the government. She also provides input on marketing materials for the Water Resources Program. Ms. Rossi gained experience while working as a Program Manager at the Food Policy Institute and as an Outreach Consultant to the Office of Continuing and Professional Education, Rutgers University. Ms. Rossi earned her Bachelors degree in History from Douglass College, Rutgers University. She is continuing her education and is enrolled in the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. Her research interests are community, organizational, and societal behavioral change and transformation. Ms. Rossi has held positions as Director of Public Relations for the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians and the Director of Business Development for a law firm in Baltimore, MD.
732-932-9800 x 6129 erossi@aesop.rutgers.edu
Amy Boyajian, Program Associate, graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in January 2007. She is continuing her education as a Graduate Student at Rutgers University on a part-time basis. As an undergraduate student, Amy collaborated with Madeline DiNardo, Union County Agricultural Agent, to develop and implement rain garden educational programs for children and adults in Union County. Additionally, Amy collaborated with Mary Cummings, Gloucester County Program Associate, to coordinate a rain garden teacher in-service, which provided the foundation for rain garden educational programs for children and adults in Gloucester County. Amy also worked for the Water Resources Program as an undergraduate student, where she assisted the Water Resources Program staff by conducting water quality sampling, flow monitoring, site investigations, and stream visual assessments. Prior to joining the Water Resources Program in June 2008, Amy worked as an environmental consultant at a private engineering consulting firm. As an environmental consultant, Amy specialized in a wide range of environmental and industrial hygiene related projects. Amy performed field work and oversight for environmental health and safety projects, as well as prepared technical reports detailing site investigations, specifications, and environmental assessments. As a Program Associate with the Water Resources Program, Amy’s primary role will be to work with the Extension Specialist in Water Resources to help design and implement extension programming to address water resources issues in New Jersey.
732-932-9800 x 6129 boyajian@envsci.rutgers.edu
Jillian Thompson, Program Associate, graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Bioenvironmental Engineering. As an undergraduate student, she conducted research at the University under Dr. Donna Fennell with a focus on heavy metals and the bioremediation of groundwater. She also interned with a private consulting firm and assisted with the marketing and sales of natural gas vehicles, two of which were purchased by Rutgers! As an intern with the Water Resources Program during the summer of 2007, Jillian assisted with surface water sampling and stream assessments mandated by NJDEP Watershed Restoration Plans. She also completed environmental modeling and assessment for a project involving the conversion of a historical wastewater treatment plant, located along the Hackensack River, into a museum. Jillian plans on earning her M.S. degree as a part-time graduate student at Rutgers.
732-932-9800 x6129 jthompson@envsci.rutgers.edu
