Marisa is the Water Program Manager at the Hill Country Alliance. She recently completed her Master of Environmental Management at the Yale School of the Environment, where she specialized in water resource management and policy. Her graduate research focused on Texas groundwater management and community water planning. She became passionate about Texas water while working for the Texas Water Foundation as a program strategist. She later supported Texas A&M's "Water and Equity in the Hill Country" report as a researcher. Prior to working in Texas, Marisa worked as a Venture for America Fellow, helping small businesses scale and create jobs in their communities. In her spare time, Marisa enjoys kayaking, exploring new swimming holes, and cooking with friends.

Danielle became a member of the Texas Living Waters Project in August 2019. Her interest in environmentalism and curiosity on how natural systems function inspired her to attend the University of Toronto for her undergraduate degrees in environmental geography and environmental studies. Later, she continued her studies at the University of Georgia School of Law. During her time at Georgia Law, Danielle interned at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 4 office and served as a Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellow working on coastal resiliency projects. Danielle enjoys playing competitive sports with friends and going on outdoor adventures with her dog, Bozeman.

Ken provides an historical perspective on water issues in Texas with over 40 years of experience as a volunteer or professional working to protect and conserve the water resources and environment of the state. He is actively involved in regional and state water planning, environmental flows protection efforts, and the advancement of water conservation, among other water initiatives. Ken serves as the environmental representative on the state's Water Conservation Advisory Council and numerous other water advisory groups. In his spare time Ken has backpacked in most of the states in the western United States and now spends much of his time managing his rural property in Austin County, which has been in his family for almost 100 years.

Alex Ortiz serves as the Lone Star Chapter’s lead coordinator on the Texas Living Waters project. His work as a Water Resources Specialist with the Sierra Club includes the Lone Star Chapter's Sustainable Management and Resilient Texas Waters project—an initiative focused on water quality standards, discharge permits and the impacts of oil and gas development on water supply and quality.  Alex has a BA in Linguistics from New York University and a JD from Tulane University Law School where he also received a Certificate in Environmental Law. His studies at Tulane focused heavily on the intersection of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act.

Growing up sandwiched between the beaches of South Florida and the vast Everglades Mikayla’s love for natural ecosystems quickly bloomed, as did her interest in the intersection of nature and humanity. This mix of love and curiosity led her to Florida State University where she earned a dual B.S. in Environmental Science and Political Science with a minor in Anthropology. She has worked internationally, focusing on sustainable development, as a Research Assistant and Consulting Aid in Costa Rica, as well as the Environmental Policy Analyst for the Florida House of Representatives, and as a Government Operations Consultant for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. When not working on environmental policy issues Mikayla loves being out on the water or exploring the great outdoors.

Arsum has 5 years of research experience in climate change impacts, adaptation and coastal resilience. At NWF, she strives to advance climate adaptation efforts, particularly nature-based approaches, to deal with the potential impacts of climate change and associated extreme events across the Gulf region. Prior to joining NWF, Arsum received her PhD in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of South Florida where she spent her time analyzing, writing, and publishing on climate impacts and adaptation decision-making in small islands using a systems approach. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from Panjab University, India. Through her work, Arsum aims to address the challenges posed by climate change to our social and ecological systems across the Gulf using a science-policy interface.

Jonathan has over a decade of experience in environmental and educational communications. He has researched and published on the history of large-scale water infrastructure in semi-arid environments with a particular focus on the long-term impact of climate infrastructure projects. Jonathan has an Ph.D. in Environmental History from the University of Texas at Austin. He also spent a season as the head of an international high school in the Indian Himalayas, a place that occasionally rivals Austin as his one true home.