Community Conservation Program Director
Valerisa (Val) Gaddy, PhD., is originally from the Navajo Nation and is of the Navajo (Diné) people. Gaddy has a passion for water quality and uses her research interests to advocate for Tribal water resources in Arizona. Prior to her current position, Gaddy was a post-doctorate research associate at the University of Arizona – Water Resources Research Center. Gaddy received her PhD and MS in Environmental Science with an emphasis in microbiology and her BS from New Mexico State University in microbiology. Gaddy’s research and extension interests include developing and validating methods to assess microbial water quality and communicating modern water quality and produce safety methods to growers. Most recently, Gaddy’s program Irrigation Resources Reaching Indigenous Growers and Tribal Entities, IRRIGaTE was a winner of 2022 MIT Solve Finals. She is a senior fellow of Columbia University – Mailman School of Public Health from 2022-2023. When Gaddy is not working, she enjoys family time with her son and husband which includes, hiking, bouldering, and playing with Legos.