Science Team
Lead Principal Investigators
Brandi Janssen, University of Iowa – Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
Martha Durr, Nebraska Indian Community College – Climate Faculty, Math and Science Division
Linda Shenk, Iowa State University – Department of English
Gabriele Villarini, Princeton University – Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program Manager
Sarah Helmer, University of Iowa – Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
Program Evaluator
Liz Hollingworth, University of Iowa – College of Education
Facilitators
Lisa PytlikZillig, University of Nebraska – Public Policy Center
Kurt Mantoya, University of Nebraska – Public Policy Center
Co-Principal Investigators
David Bennett, University of Iowa – Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
William Gutowski, Iowa State University – Meteorology
Rezaul Mahmood, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – Climatology
Shannon Roesler, University of Iowa – Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative
Joshua Roundy, University of Kansas – Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering
Graduate Students
Bryce Bearson, Iowa State University
Mariana Castro Azpiroz, Iowa State University
Eva Cuevas, University of Iowa
Kayleigh Koester, University of Iowa
Liv McCauley, Iowa State University
Jerome Okojokwo-Idu, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Undergraduate Students
Hannah Bensen, Iowa State University
Rosalind Grant, Omaha and Winnebago Tribal Affiliation
Chun Hang Chan, University of Iowa
Grace Iversen, Iowa State University
Science Team
Antonio Arenas, Iowa State University – Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
Joel Burken, Missouri University of Science and Technology – Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
John Flunker, University of Iowa – Department of Epidemiology
Kristie Franz, Iowa State University – Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Trenton Franz, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – School of Natural Resources
Aemal Khattak, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Kate Giannini, University of Iowa – IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering
Radoslaw Goska, University of Iowa – IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering
Tonya Haigh, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – School of Natural Resources
Michael Hayes, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – School of Natural Resources
Mary Hill, University of Kansas – Geology Department
Robert Holmes, Missouri University of Science and Technology – Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
Courtney Long, Iowa State University – Agriculture and Natural Resources and Community and Economic Development Extension
Sara McMillan, Iowa State University – Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering
Jerry Mount, University of Iowa – IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering
Marian Muste, University of Iowa – IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering
Ted Neal, University of Iowa – College of Education
Laurie Nowatzke, University of Iowa – Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
Felipe Quintero, University of Iowa – IIHR and Iowa Flood Center
Tirthankar Roy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Blake Rupe, University of Iowa – Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative
Keith Schilling, University of Iowa – Iowa Geological Survey
Marcia Schulmeister, University of Kansas – Geology Department
Breanna Shea, University of Iowa – IIHR and Iowa Flood Center
Jennifer Terry, University of Iowa – Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative
Kelsey Varisco, University of Nebraska, Lincoln – School of Natural Resources
Larry Weber, University of Iowa – IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering
The COLEARN team is indebted to Hank Miller (1962-2025), a lifelong teacher and learner who delighted in sharing the great accomplishments of his students at NICC and the beauty of northeastern Nebraska.
COLEARN Alumni
Ibrahim Demir, Tulane University
Witold Krajewski, University of Iowa
