Kathleen Rugel

Kathleen Rugel is an experienced professional in the fields of aquatic ecology and education, currently serving as a Policy and Practice Fellow at the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center since June 2016, where research is focused on sustainable water agreements worldwide. Previous roles include Certified Chemical Analyst at J. Leek Associates, Inc., where expertise in mycotoxin detection was developed, and Associate Editor for Freshwater Science, co-organizing a significant special issue to promote freshwater awareness. Kathleen holds a PhD in Aquatic Ecology from the University of Georgia, where research concentrated on groundwater-surface water interactions. Additional experience includes K-12 outreach coordination at the University of Tennessee at Martin and teaching biology and chemistry at Craigmont High School, fostering student success in science education.