Congratulations to HAS Outstanding Senior, Marleigh Chidester!

Our warmest congratulations go to Marleigh Chidester, HAS Outstanding Senior, who was recognized by the College of Science during the graduation Convocation on December 19, 2024.  Marleigh was 1 of 10 graduating seniors nominated by their COS departments in recognition of their outstanding academic work, research participation, community engagement, extracurricular activities, and leadership. Marleigh will begin her graduate study in hydrology in the coming academic year.

Scott Coleman from the College of Science recently talked with Marleigh about what made her experiences at the University of Arizona special. You can find the original article here.

"Why did you choose to study Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences?

I am from a rural town in Southern Arizona that is involved mainly in mining and farming. The town also borders a Native American reservation. Growing up I saw first hand the complexities of water use, not just in daily life but the effects it has on people’s livelihoods. I was intrigued by the constant efforts to make sure every community had access to clean water, farmers could grow their crops, the mine could operate and a merit of other complicated demands. This general interest in my community's resources became a career path that I wanted to pursue when I took a new class offered at my high school where the teacher taught a 3 week section on hydrology. Before this class I did not know that hydrology was something I could go to school for. My supportive teacher from this class directed me to the University of Arizona’s hydrology program and my interest in the importance of water resources has grown as I have completed my degree here, as well as my knowledge to be part of the work to help communities with their resources.

Tell us about a class or research project you really enjoyed.

During my time at the University of Arizona I have been fortunate enough to work on a research project under my advisor Martha Whittaker. The main goal of this project is to increase access to important hydrological data that can be used to determine some of the water resources in a community or state. In this project we compile the data of streamgages and precipitation gages for the states that make up the Colorado River Basin. The list of gages that we obtained were used to create a map that can be used to catalog the water resources available from streams and rain/snowfall in each state. While gaining experience managing datasets and learning to model and create maps has been a great opportunity for me, I was able to meet professionals from all of the United States and present at conferences because of this research project and those connections and experiences are what made my research so invaluable to me.

What are you most proud of having accomplished in your time at UA?

I am most proud of the extra opportunities I was able to seize during my time here. Obtaining my degree in hydrology has been the main focus throughout my time here but being willing to try new things and push myself to do more has resulted in certificates, research positions, and internships that I have grown immensely by participating in. I was able to live in the midwest and work as a technician for a summer, participate in an internship learning about the great work being done right here in Tucson, and expand my knowledge on mining, surveying, and modeling that will make me more versatile in the future. UA has been a catalyst for so many great experiences, that I am proud that I was able to step out of my comfort zone to expand my knowledge outside of my intended Major.

What is next for you after graduation?

After graduating, I will begin the graduate program in hydrology at the University of Arizona. UA has been a great steppings stone for my future and I am anxious to continue my education with the great professors and advisors at the Department of Hydrology. After obtaining my master’s degree, I hope to work as a consultant helping people understand their water resources." 

Congratulations, Marleigh!