Dr. Doug Parker recently retired from his positions as the Director of the California Institute for Water Resources, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. He coordinated water-related research, extension, and education efforts across the 10 UC campuses, the UC ANR system, and other academic institutions within California. Prior to joining the University of California, Doug worked on water quality issues related to the Chesapeake Bay as a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland. He has also worked on issues related to California water as a Cooperative Extension Economist at UC Berkeley. Doug obtained his Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Berkeley and Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies at UC Santa Barbara.
Doug has given generously of his time and energy to further the mission of the Universities Council on Water Resources, first as a delegate and then as a board member from 2014-2021. As 2016-2017 President of UCOWR, Doug initiated a strategic planning process that resulted in the 2017 UCOWR Strategic Plan, crafted by UCOWR Board and staff members in September 2017. This plan set forth clear-cut tasks and goals with deadlines that have effectively pushed UCOWR to grow in relevance and useful service to its membership over the past five years. Even after his term as President, Doug ran for another three-year term on the UCOWR board to continue helping with plan implementation tasks. Doug’s extraordinary leadership, cooperative spirit, and sense of humor helped his cohort group and successive UCOWR Board members and staff to accomplish major Strategic Plan goals. Just a few examples of these concrete achievements include: redefining UCOWR identity, mission, and goals; formalizing partnerships with organizations such as NIWR, Southern Nevada Water Association, and CUAHSI; increasing recognition of excellence in the UCOWR community; improving recruitment and engagement of delegates; developing more dynamic conference formats; and transitioning the Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education (JCWRE) from print to an on-line format. Doug is truly a treasured Friend of UCOWR!
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, Doug, built upon a career of outstanding outreach and education and generous support toward water resources colleagues across UCOWR, NIWR and beyond.
