Photo of Mark Walker, Extension

Mark Walker

Emeritus Professor

Summary

Capsule summary of qualifications. 

 

My research (currently 38%) supports exposure assessment as a part of risk assessment associated with human health protection. I have conducted studies of exposure and potential for exposure to:

  • Arsenic in private water supplies,
  • E. coli, as an indicator of fecal contamination in water,
  • Leptospira, as a result of changes in land use in Hawaii, and  
  • Cryptosporidium.

My extension work (currently 50%) provides technical support and information through:

  • Water supply operators throughout Nevada, using an innovative partnership and distance learning technologies,
  • Web sites that help interpret water quality and have served as models for at least two national efforts,
  • Peer-reviewed fact sheets and special publications,
  • Newsletters, and
  • Small grants programs for Extension Educators.

My teaching (currently 12%) includes:

  • A course (NRES 304—Principles of Hydrology) formerly required or recommended for 4 different B.S. programs, including 2 outside the department,
  • A seminar series (NRES 790—Environmental Sciences) offered each semester, featuring prominent speakers, and
  • A course (NRES 295—Ecohydrology), which is the cornerstone for the recently established Ecohydrology major.

My service includes:

  • Current director of the Environmental Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for the University
  • Former director of the Graduate Program, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Department
  • Departmental, college and university committees, including NRES Departmental Chair Evaluation (ad hoc), Peer-review, Ecohydrology, Geographic Information Systems and Executive Committees (NRES Department), Research Committee (College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources), Extension Governing Board and International Affairs Committee (University)
  • Chair and principal author: committee to establish the Ecohydrology B.S. major in the NRES Department
  • Co-chair of Coalition for Water and Wastewater Management (a statewide advisory committee)
  • Reviewer—competitive grants programs (NRI/CSREES/Government of Ireland/USGS-NWRI/Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Hatch program), journal articles and books, Extension materials, and
  • Numerous outreach presentations and educational activities for community groups. 

 

Education

English and Journalism, S.U.N.Y Binghamton
University of Arizona
Cornell University, 1998

Courses

- Principles of Hydrology for Natural Resources Management

Service

University

·         Director, Environmental Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (2006—present)

  • Participant: National Research Council Assessment of Doctoral Programs Study
  • Advisor, Student Association for International Water Issues (2005—present)
  • International Affairs Committee (1999—2001)

 

College

·         Committee Member: College of Cooperative Extension, Search Committee, Water Rights State Specialist. (2007).

·         Extension Governing Board (State Specialists Representative)(2000—2003)

·         Chair: College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) Research Committee (2003)

  • Search Committee – Extension Area Specialist in Natural Resources for Southern Area (2002)

·         Member: CABNR Research Committee (2002)

·         Nevada Cooperative Extension Conference Planning Committee (1999)

 

Department:

2010

  • Member, tenure mentoring committee, Kelley Stewart, Elizabeth Leger
  • Departmental Graduate Program Committee
  • Advisor, Ecohydrology Club

2009

  • Departmental Graduate  Program Committee
  • Member, tenure mentoring committee, Sudeep Chandra, Kelley Stewart, Elizabeth Leger
  • Advisor, Ecohydrology Club

2008:

  • Departmental Executive Committee 

2007: 

  • Lead Author/Presenter to Board of Regents: Ecohydrology B.S. Major Proposal
  • Member: Departmental Executive Committee
  • Lead Author: Revision of Watershed Sciences Option Recommended Course Progression 

2006:

  • Lead Author: Avian Influenza Response Plan–Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
  • Lead Author: Ecohydrology B.S. Major Proposal Development 

(Sabbatical leave from 9/2005—8/2006)

2005:

  • ·         Lead author: Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program preproposal and discussion papers
  • ·         Lead author: Ecohydrology B.S. program proposal
  • ·         Chair: Graduate Program Committee
  • ·         Chair: Ecohydrology Major development committee

2004:

  • ·         Chair: Committee to evaluate performance of Department Chair
  • ·         Chair: Graduate program committee
  • ·         Chair: Ecohydrology Major development committee
  • ·         Member: Peer review committee