Aaron Salzberg

A leader in international water diplomacy, Dr. Aaron Salzberg is the Director of the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina, which focuses on scientific research, technical innovation, and policy reform and advocacy. Before joining UNC, Aaron managed the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy on drinking water and sanitation, water resources management, and transboundary water at the U.S. Department of State. He served as the State Department’s Special Coordinator for Water Resources where he was the lead representative or the lead water advisor for the United States at major international events including the G8, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and the World Water Forums.

Dr. Salzberg also led the Department of State’s engagement on transboundary water issues in many regions throughout the world where water is, or may become, a source of tension or conflict. Aaron currently holds an appointment as a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and serves as a member of the World Meteorological Organization’s Scientific Research Board. Aaron has a Ph.D. in Genetic Toxicology and a Master’s degree in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland.