OUR MISSION
Advancing water education to understand global challenges and inspire local solutions
OUR VISION
Envisioning a world in which action-oriented education enables everyone to understand and value water, ensuring a sustainable future.
We achieve our mission by:
We offer affordable resources and trainings to educators all around the world. Our quality, trustworthy lessons are also fun and interactive.
We offer a variety of customizable community and employee engagement opportunities. Our work with corporations, government organizations, and local watershed managers, to name a few, provide sustainability-focused ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) metrics.
We operate with a network of about 90 partner organizations to help us reach all types of educators. Our new and innovative ideas help fulfill our mission.
Project WET has global reach with local impact. We are invested in the future of our communities and our planet. We are inspiring the next generation of water stewards to understand the value of water and are dedicated to protecting our future.
Core Beliefs
Our publications, training workshops, global network and community events are grounded in the following core beliefs:
- water connects us all
- water is for all water users
- water must be managed sustainably
- water depends on personal responsibility
and action
MEET OUR TEAM
John Etgen
With more than 35 years of experience delivering conservation education, John Etgen has a passion for helping people of all ages to understand our most precious natural resource, water. Whether teaching sanitation and hygiene to schools in developing countries or educating employees of the world’s largest companies about water stewardship, John inspires people to take meaningful action to conserve and protect water.
John has been with the Project WET Foundation for 26 years. His work has spanned more than 75 countries. He holds a Master of Science degree in Science Education from Montana State University and Executive Leadership and High-Performance Leadership certificates from Cornell University. He is credentialed as a Professional Consultant by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) and currently serves as the Chair of the AWS Technical Committee. A former naturalist and environmental education specialist in Glacier National Park, he was awarded the 2000 Montana Conservation Educator of the Year award.
Julia Beck
Before working at Project WET, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar where I lived in a very remote village with no access to clean water. The community I lived in was uneducated. I spent hours every day getting clean water and observed the struggles of my neighbors. I knew if they were better educated, they would have the ability to improve their lives dramatically. I believe education is the primary solution to almost every challenge. Project WET delivers quality education on our most important resource—water.
I have the honor of working with our motivated, dedicated, and passionate global network of implementing partners who use Project WET in their programs. I provide resources and networking opportunities for our partners as well as write curriculum, conduct trainings and develop online trainings and lessons.
Before taking my current position, I managed international projects for Project WET. I received a B.A. in Biology from Colorado College and an M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Montana State University in Bozeman. I have worked as a wildlife biologist studying kit foxes, coyotes and wolves, taught at an outdoor science school and traveled as a student of the world, including serving in the Peace Corps.
Solina Beringer
I believe in the power of educating communities about the environmental challenges we face and providing the tools to make a difference. I bring technical skills and marketing experience to the Project WET Foundation. As an Organizational Assistant, I provide support for a variety of programs and organizational needs.
Before coming to Project WET, I worked diligently with the sustainability department at my college. I supplied composting tools across campus, educated students and staff on waste management practices, trained volunteers, and coordinated fundraising events. After graduating, I learned to code and worked as a website and social media manager for various small businesses and nonprofits in the Bozeman area. I received a BA in Sociology from Saint Mary’s College of California, where I conducted research on grassroots movements and environmental justice issues. Aside from exploring the wonderful outdoors, I enjoy the pleasure of devouring a good book and a delicious meal.
Morgan Close
Morgan joined Project WET in 2010 to continue the development of Project WET's international network and the support of multiple ongoing and new projects. She has been integral in the development of multiple educational resources and has facilitated training workshops across the globe from Tanzania to Taiwan. Prior to this position she spent several years as a buyer in the outdoor retail industry, wrangled horses and children at a Montana guest ranch and taught environmental education in New England. Her experience includes research and travel throughout Eastern Africa, Europe and Asia.
Morgan received a B.A. in Psychology from Bates College with a focus on Experiential Education.
Verna Schaff
Verna joined the Project WET Foundation in 2005 as its accountant and assistant to the chief financial officer. In addition to payroll, Verna manages employee benefits, oversees inventory and provides accounting support to Project WET staff.
Verna earned a bachelor’s in accounting from Montana State University–Bozeman.
Kyla Tengdin
While I was studying abroad in rural Brazil, it wasn’t uncommon for the town’s taps to run dry. Having grown up in water-rich Minnesota, I had never had to wonder whether there would be enough clean water for all my needs. Experiencing water shortages firsthand showed me the importance of education to develop resilient communities. I have the privilege of working with our worldwide network of educators to distribute Project WET’s award-winning educational materials. I also help develop new resources, manage our social media presence, and keep our network updated on current projects. I received a B.A. in Spanish with a Management Studies concentration from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. During college, I studied abroad in Brazil and Argentina. Before joining Project WET, I taught Spanish and Portuguese at language immersion camps and trained electronic medical record users.
Beth Witte
Prior to moving to Bozeman, I taught outdoor education at a field school on an island in Lake Erie. We used Project WET in our curriculum, and I enjoyed bringing water education to students through hands-on activities and research projects. Many of our students lived mere blocks from the Great Lakes but had no meaningful connection or understanding of the freshwater resource in their “backyard.” Our work here at Project WET is essential to educate and inspire the next generation of water stewards.
As Organizational Assistant I support Project WET programs and partners in their needs, assist with sales and educational material distribution, as well as other office tasks that need doing (I hear they might teach me how to drive a forklift!)
I have a degree in Secondary Education and Math from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. I taught in a traditional high school classroom before transitioning to outdoor education programs. I have a background in designing STEM programs, facilitating professional development and managing grant-funded projects.
MEET OUR BOARD
Richard R. Arnold II
Currently serving as the Director of STEM engagement at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Ricky has worked for over 30 years as a global educator and more recently as an Astronaut at NASA. He is a certified Science teacher from the State of Maryland and has taught science and mathematics from grades six to twelve in five different countries. He has experience with the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs in both Environmental Science and Biology. He has served in a variety of leadership roles in the Astronaut Office and has completed two missions to the International Space Station totaling over 200 days in space. As an astronaut with a background in Education, he was heavily involved in NASA’s Year of Education on Station during his most recent mission in 2018. Ricky has had the unique experience of conducting science expeditions under the sea in both a submersible and habitat, during a weeklong expedition in a large cave system in Sardinia, and on a tall ship conducting blue water oceanography in the Atlantic. Ricky has a BS from Frostburg State University, an MS in Marine and Estuarine Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, and a D.Sc. h.c. from Frostburg State University.
Kerry Schwartz
I’ve always been wowed by the wonders of this earth. On my first trip west, as an 11-year-old camper from Maryland, I was awestruck by the wide-open western landscape, so full of colors other than green! It’s no wonder that I wound up in the magical Sonoran Desert, where water either thunders down or teases, an elusive dream. My dream became reality in 2000, when I became Director of the Arizona Project WET Program at the University of Arizona’s (UA) Water Resources Research Center. MS and BS degrees in Geosciences and Geohydrology and 8 years in environmental consulting with Science Applications International Corporation and Groundwater Resources Consultants in WA and AZ provided me with depth of knowledge in the field. I found humility and new perspectives in a transitional year of Americorps service, facilitating environmental education with Yaqui students in Tucson. Now I live my passion; using hands-on exploration and inquiry to drive learning about our most precious resource. Service on the Project WET Board is one of my greatest honors.The UA’s 2019 Extension Faculty of the Year Award and the Project WET Foundation’s Blue Planet Award for 20 years of service are icing on the cake.
Edna Primrose
I am thrilled to join the Project WET Foundation Board of Directors! I have spent nearly 20 years as a champion for youth education and I have had the privilege to lead a national program in rural water and waste infrastructure. My Board membership enables me to pursue both of these passions. I look forward to contributing to Project WET’s mission through my public and private sector executive leadership experience, and my dedication to communities, education, economic development, and partnerships. I currently serve as Director of Policy for the Aspen Institute Education and Society Program. I previously served as Assistant Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs, and Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For over a decade, I worked in the Job Corps Program, a national residential education and training program for youth, culminating in serving as National Director. I have collaborated with national/international partners on global water and education issues. I’m a proud graduate of Towson University (TU), with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Today, I give back by serving as a Vice President on the TU Foundation Board of Directors, and member of the Board of Visitors and College of Business and Economics Advisory Board. I also earned a Harvard Kennedy School of Government Public Leadership Executive Certificate.
Will Sarni
Will is the Founder and CEO of Water Foundry. Previously he was the founder and CEO of DOMANI, a sustainability strategy firm that was acquired by Deloitte Consulting. At Deloitte he founded the water strategy practice which provided services to U.S. and non-U.S. multinationals on quantifying and mitigating water-related risks. Following his career at Deloitte, he founded Water Foundry which continues to work with private sector clients as well as innovative water technology startups and early-stage growth companies in addressing water scarcity and quality issues.
An internationally recognized thought leader on water strategy and innovation, Will has authored numerous books and articles and presented on: the value of water, innovations in digital water technology, the circular economy and the energy-water-food nexus.
He is the author of the following books: Corporate Water Strategies (Earthscan 2011, and in Chinese by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press 2013); Water Tech – A Guide to Investment, Innovation and Business Opportunities in the Water Sector (Sarni, W. and Pechet, T., Routledge 2013); Beyond the Energy – Water – Food Nexus: New Strategies for 21st Century Growth (Dō Sustainability 2015); Water Stewardship and Business Value: Creating Abundance from Scarcity (Sarni, W., and Grant, D., Routledge 2018); Creating 21st Century Abundance through Public Policy Innovation: Moving Beyond Business as Usual (Sarni, W. and Koch, G., Greenleaf Publishing 2018); and Digital Water: New Technologies for a More Resilient, Secure and Equitable Water Future (Sarni, W., Routledge 2019).
Will is a Project Board Member of 10.10.10 and ASSET and Founder and Chairman of WetDATA.org. He was a 2016 XPRIZE Bold Visioneer for the Safe Drinking Water Team and is on the: Scientific Program Committee for Stockholm World Water Week; Executive Council of NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS); Editorial Board of the Journal of Water Security; and a Technical Advisor for the Climate Bonds Initiative: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate and Water Resilience.
Will joined the Project WET Foundation Board of Directors in 2018.
Jashell Mitchell
Jashell Mitchell is a Flint, MI native and graduate of Flint Northern HS where she was part of the Back to Back Girls Basketball State Championships and their 2016 induction into the Greater Flint Sports Hall of Fame.
She attended Bethune-Cookman University as she obtained her bachelor's degree in Physical Education/Recreation. She obtained her master's degree from the University of Memphis and is currently attending East TN State University for her Ed.D. in Global Sports Leadership.
She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Flint Alumnae Chapter, and the Owner of MitchMatch Ventures, LLC, a sports and recreation consulting business. She is also Executive Director of Invisible Giants Legacy & Leadership Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides City of Flint youth and adults with educational and professional development opportunities and resources.
Jashell enjoys traveling and being with family and currently serves as the Manager of Player Engagement for the National Football League. In her role, she specializes in leadership and professional development opportunities for current and former NFL players, and assists with the NFL Experienceship program for HBCU students and young professionals.
Marcelle Shoop
Marcelle Shoop works with a diverse array of stakeholders to advance balanced solutions for water use in the water-constrained arid West. She has an extensive background navigating challenging policy and legal issues surrounding environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Marcelle is the director of the National Audubon Society's Saline Lakes Program, which aims to ensure the long-term health and functionality of the network of saline lakes and their wetlands to support millions of migratory birds, while at the same times benefiting recreation, local economies and community well-being. She is engaged with a number of advisory groups focused on water resources and water-sharing arrangements.
Having seen the value of informing and educating both the public and policymakers on the importance of protecting precious water resources, Marcelle has a special interest in supporting Project WET's mission.
Her current role with Audubon builds on her past positions in leadership roles at Rio Tinto where she focused most recently on international socially and environmentally responsible business practices and supply chains. Before that, she practiced natural resources and environmental law as an attorney with Holland & Hart. Marcelle holds Juris Doctor and Bachelor's degrees from the University of Wyoming.
Jane Lazgin
My career has always been about giving a voice to people, product and issues.
As spokesperson and director of corporate communications for Nestle Waters North America, I communicated the contribution of water to a healthy lifestyle and the company's positions on environmental issues, such as watershed management, sustainable water use practices, and recycling and reducing plastic content. I worked for the company through 2017.
Today, I'm an adjunct professor at Norwalk Community College in Connecticut teaching international students career strategies, business and English, and I instruct classes at nonprofit organizations. When I look in the face of every student, I know education gives them a fair chance to achieve their dreams of succeeding in the US. I have met the most interesting, multicultural young people.
I live in Stamford with my partner, Richard. I graduated from the State of New York University at New Paltz and spent my junior year of college at McGill University in Montreal. I joined the Project WET Board in June 2021.
PARTNER WITH US
Are you interested in advancing water education? Inspire solutions with Project WET.