The California Water Institute located at Fresno State University has been reformed and as the following press release shows, should be more responsive to the needs of Valley agriculture. The CWI was formerly under the leadership of Tommy Esqueda who is now City Manger of the City of Fresno. Having the Center for Irrigation Technology, the Water
Energy & Technology Center and the CWI research and education team organized as part of one mission is clearly a smart move by the powers that be at FSU. These are all outstanding people and services and for all practical purposes this is the premier ag irrigation facility in the San Joaquin Valley. That alone make its one of the premier facilities of its type on earth. We’re optimistic that whoever was covering the bright and welcomed light shinning from Fresno State as a beacon to the Valley’s ag industry has lost their bushel.
Special to WaterWrights.net
Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval announced on Dec. 3 the consolidation of Fresno State’s water research, education and external collaboration efforts under a single, restructured California Water Institute. Fresno State has been a leader in water research and community engagement for several decades.
This consolidation will provide external stakeholders with more convenient access to Fresno State’s extensive water research and development programs and services. The consolidated institute will continue to position Fresno State as a leader in water research and sustainability by engaging faculty, students, staff and researchers from disciplines across the University to address some of the most challenging water issues of our time.
In addition to agriculture, engineering, technology, science, economic and policy research and education, the California Water Institute will focus on sustainable water resource management solutions through outreach and entrepreneurship.
The California Water Institute will have three divisions: the Center for Irrigation Technology; the Research and Education Division; and the Water, Energy and Technology Center. Dr. Charles Hillyer, director of the Center for Irrigation Technology since September 2019, will serve as interim associate vice president for the institute.
A board that includes the provost and deans of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and Lyles College of Engineering will provide operational oversight. In the next few weeks, Jiménez-Sandoval will invite several key community water leaders to be part of the external advisory board for the California Water Institute.
The California Water Institute will facilitate and strengthen partnerships with government, community leaders, industry, community-based organizations and academic institutions, among others. For the campus community, the institute will focus on student education and professional development for water-based careers. Foster interdisciplinary research and scholarship; and partner with other academic institutions and organizations to bolster competitiveness for funding. Seventeen faculty members from seven of Fresno State’s eight schools and colleges are affiliated with the California Water Institute as faculty fellows.
The leadership team includes:
- Kaomine Vang, interim director of the Center for Irrigation Technology.
- Agriculture professor Dr. Florence Cassel, assistant director of the Center.
- Biology professor Dr. Steve Blumenshine, director of the Research and Education Division.
- Laura Ramos, associate director of the Research and Education Division.
- Helle Petersen, director of the Water, Energy and Technology Center.
For more information go to: http://www.californiawater.org/
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