Water Reuse for Ohio’s Future: Implications for advanced industry, land conservation, and resource efficiency

Linda Weavers holds the John C. Geupel Endowed Chair and is Professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University.  In addition, Dr. Weavers is co-Director of the Ohio Water Resources Center, the federally authorized and state-designated Water Resources Research Institute for the State of Ohio and is co-Lead in the Sustainability Institute Healthy Air, Land, and Water Program Area.  After obtaining her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota, she received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).  She is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio and board certified environmental engineer.

Tiffani started with Ohio EPA in 1995 and spent most of her time in the Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization (DERR) as an enforcement coordinator, the Clean Ohio Fund manager, and later overseeing the Superfund, Enforcement, Federal Facilities, Natural Resource Damages, and Voluntary Action Programs. She transferred to the Division of Surface Water (DSW) in 2014, and in 2023 was appointed the Agency's Policy Director. In her current role, Tiffani leads Ohio EPA policy across all agency divisions in coordination with stakeholder organizations and federal and state partners. She assists the director in defining agency and division-specific environmental goals and objectives based on Governor priorities and/or federal mandates. She graduated from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Public Policy. She also has several master’s credits from the University of Findlay’s Environmental Management Program.

In 2022, John Newsome became the Administrator of the Division of Water (DOW). He has a long history with the Department of Public Utilities, serving since 2006 in various capacities. Previously he was the Administrator of the Division of Sewerage & Drainage since January 2016 and has helped lead some of the largest capital projects in Columbus. He also served as the Assistant Administrator in the Division of Power where he helped create a first of its kind, long-term Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) of more than $54 million to help better meet the needs of residents and businesses. He has worked as a Sewer Systems Engineering Sections Manager, served as a member of the Blueprint Columbus steering team and served as the project manager to the OARS project, the largest CIP in the history of the city.

Kristy Hawthorne has served with Licking County Soil & Water for 11 years.  In April 2020, Kristy was appointed as the District Program Administrator to lead the organization. She oversees programs such OEPA Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and USDA cost share programs, ODA Farmland Preservation Easement management, and development of Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategies. Kristy chairs and serves on various committees, including Licking County River Round Up, the Licking Land Trust, Hartford Fair Natural Resources Area, and Licking County Farm Bureau Board. 

Shana Byrd is the leader of the statewide Ohio Conservation Program with The Nature Conservancy, where she spearheads the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems to create connected habitats. With over 24 years of experience in natural resource management and conservation, her previous roles include a decade with The Dawes Arboretum as Senior Director of Science and former Director of Land Conservation. Prior to that, she served 10 years at The Wilds as Director of the Restoration Ecology Program. Shana earned a Master's degree from Miami University’s Global Field Program and a B.S. in Environmental and Plant Biology from Ohio University, where she returns for lectures on career development and mentorship programs. Currently, her focus is on leveraging local initiatives and collaborating with stakeholders to scale impacts that can support conservation statewide. 

Michael is currently a senior client services leader with CDM Smith, Inc. and has almost 30 years of management and leadership experience in the water industry as both a government executive and engineering consultant. He has been extensively involved in a wide variety of public utility infrastructure planning projects focused on supporting future growth and development. He has past experience with development of public policy and financing strategies to support infrastructure needs through stakeholder engagement during his time as Delaware County Administrator and Executive Director for both the Delaware County Regional Sewer District and the Licking Regional Water District. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Ohio Northern University and holds a Professional Engineering License in the State of Ohio. 

John Sheets, PhD, PE, is an environmental engineer with over a decade of experience in the water and wastewater sectors. Dr. Sheets is a project technical leader at CDM Smith, with expertise including water and wastewater treatment, biosolids and PFAS management, renewable energy, and water reuse. He is driven to promote the practical implementation of cutting-edge technologies that aim protect public health and the environment. Dr. Sheets leads CDM Smith’s efforts to support Midwest utilities on the development of advanced treatment and water reuse projects. He currently serves as the Chair for WateReuse Ohio’s Potable Reuse committee. Dr. Sheets holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University (OH) and doctorate in agricultural engineering from the Ohio State University.

Jenna Malloy is a third year Environment and Natural Resources Scholar majoring in Environmental Science with a Water Science specialization and Geographic Information Science (GIS) minor. She is the President of Ohio State student organization, TerrAqua, where she coordinates monthly events to enhance student experiences in water science through career development and off-campus learning opportunities. Throughout her undergraduate career, Jenna has held aquatic research positions with Cleveland Metroparks, and Ohio State’s Aquatic Ecology Laboratory. She spent the 2024 summer semester studying at Ohio Sea Grant’s Stone Laboratory and currently serves as Stone Lab’s Communications Student Assistant where she develops creative ways to communicate science and outreach through social media.

Lydia Schiopota is a third year Environment and Natural Resources Scholar majoring in Environmental Science with a Water Science specialization. She is the Treasurer of Ohio State student organization, TerrAqua, and serves as a School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) Ambassador, where she connects with and provides resources to prospective students through panels, tours, and presentations. Early in her undergraduate career, Lydia worked as a student researcher in The Gray Lab: Aquatic Physiological Ecology at Ohio State where she completed independent research on the ontogenetic shifts in social and mating behavior in African blue-lip cichlids. She studied at Ohio Sea Grant’s Stone Laboratory during the 2024 summer semester and spent this past autumn semester studying abroad at University College Cork, Ireland, through Ohio State’s Global Education Program.