LEADERSHIP 2022-2023
Kristen Riedinger, Co-President, Water Night Director
Kristen is a PhD student in MIT's Civil and Environmental Engineering department. Her research involves using analytical chemistry methods to investigate the presence of pollutants in various environmental samples, such as groundwater. This year, she is excited help students and other community members learn about important topics in water, especially as it relates to climate change and other environmental impacts.
James Vincent Brice, Co-President, Treasurer
James is a dual Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering degree candidate. Pulling from professional experience in wildlife zoology and a BS in Applied Physics (RPI ‘16), he's exploring the integration of architecture, urban ecology and environmental fluid mechanics. His research, co-advised by Miho Mazereeuw (Urban Risk Lab) and Dr. Heidi Nepf (Nepf Lab), focuses on wave-structure-vegetation interaction and the design of nature-based coastal flood mitigation strategies. He’s passionate about encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration between fields of science and design, and is excited to expand the scope and participation of the Water Club into ecological and socio-cultural dimensions of water-related research. Catch him in the wild crouched on the sidewalk identifying weeds or poking around in tidepools.
Autumn Deitrick, Outreach Coordinator
Autumn Deitrick is a second-year PhD student in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, where she is co-advised by Dr. Heidi Nepf (MIT) and Dr. David Ralston (WHOI). Prior to coming to MIT, she completed her B.S. in Civil Engineering at Penn State as a Schreyer Honors College Scholar. Her research focuses on understanding carbon storage in mangrove forests by studying how carbon containing sediment can be eroded and deposited in mangrove soils. Autumn enjoys organizing outreach and educational events through the MIT Water Club and giving back to programs that supported her by serving as a Schreyer Alumni Admissions Interviewer, MIT Summer Research Program Application Committee Member, and JP ASK Mentor. Outside of the lab, she enjoys running along the Charles River, unwinding with yoga, and exploring her creative side through watercolor painting and cooking!
Anselmo Cassiano, Vice President of International Relations
Anselmo Cassiano is a fellow in the MIT Water Diplomacy program. Has an MBA in corporate communication FIA/USP BRAZIL. He is a Teaching Fellow at Harvard Law Negotiation and Dispute Resolution courses. He is a specialist in Negotiation, Mediation by Program on Negotiation (PON) at Harvard Law School, and a Specialist in Crisis Emergency and Business Continuity by MIT. Specialist in Conflict Management OMBUDSMAN by Princeton University and Strategy, Conflict, and Cooperation by Harvard Economics. He also as 1st Lieutenant worked for the United Nations as UN Peacekeepers Force in East Timor. He loves sports and he was MIT Shotokan Karate and Triathlon Captain for several years and now he is MIT Triathlon Vice-President. Also, he has been a volunteer Instructor Sailing at MIT co-ed Sailing program since 2017. He studies Water Diplomacy as a Researcher Affiliate at MIT and an Expert in Humanitarian Response to a conflict zone and Refugee rights by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and Amnesty International. He has been a member of Harvard Law School Negotiators and Judge of the USA Stockholm Junior Water Prize since 2018, which is considered the world's most prestigious international award presented to a student who has conducted research in the water sciences. . He has been a member of MIT Water since 2017 as co-chairman of the Lecture Series.
Nicolette Bugher, Networking and Events Coordinator
Nicolette is a 3rd year PhD candidate at MIT studying Environmental Engineering in the Plata Lab. She’s research focuses on complex mixture analysis of trace organic compounds with a focus on improving traditional analytical methods for better detection and identification of emerging industrial compounds. She has been a part of the MIT Water Club since 2020 and has directed a policy workshop series and participated in the MIT Water Summit 2020 and 2021.
Vyshnavi Vennelakanti, Water Summit Director
Bio and photo coming soon!