Dr. Norm Evans Lecture Series
About the Dr. Norm Evans Endowment
The Dr. Norm Evans Endowment, established by Ken and Ruth Wright of Wright Water Engineers, honors Norm Evans, director of the Colorado Water Center from 1967 to 1988. This annual lecture brings distinguished individuals to CSU to speak on water management, education, and policy.
Evans, a graduate of civil engineering at CSU, was the longest running director of the institute over its 50 year history. Ken Wright notes that Evans was loyal and dedicated to the institute: “He was certainly a champion for water research planning and programming,” says Wright. “He related well to other water use organizations and also to local, state, and federal government. He was well thought of at the state legislature, where he represented CSU with dignity.”
After the Federal Water Quality Act of 1965, Evans was a founding member of Colorado’s commission to establish and apply water quality standards. He is also known for his commitment to public service and historical preservation; he was involved with the Poudre Landmarks Foundation and took part in the preservation of the Avery House and the 1883 City Water Works in Fort Collins.
Read about the creation of the Norm Evans Lecture Series in the 50th anniversary issue of Colorado Water.
Wright Water Engineers’ 60th-anniversary video provides a history of Colorado water and urban development since 1960. The video features interviews with important Colorado water players, including former Governor Richard Lamm and former Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Harris Sherman. The founder of WWE, Ken Wright and Ruth Wright were both major players in Colorado water and environment politics.
Norm Evans Distinguished Lecture Series Archive
Munira Anyonge Bashir, 2019 Distinguished Lecturer
Ms. Munira Anyonge is a wildlife conservation manager, community enterprise development specialist and a tourism development expert with over 20 years professional experience. She holds a BA in Business Studies and Administration and Master’s Degree, major in Tourism. She is skilled in project management, community mobilization and awareness creation, policy development and analysis, strategic planning and implementation. Her breadth of professional experience includes careers as a Tourism officer with the government of Kenya; Executive Assistant and Public Relations officer at the National Museums of Kenya; Community Development Specialist and USAID program Manager with Kenya Wildlife Service for over 10-years; She was among lead persons for the development of wildlife policy and legislation; Champion for Strategic plan development at Kenya Wildlife Service and the Head of the Community Enterprise development program at Kenya Wildlife Service. Munira is a highly recognized individual in the wildlife sector in Kenya. An accomplished manager, a facilitator of successful community wildlife development initiatives, including the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA). Munira is a passionate wildlife conservationist with several successful achievements including the Head of State Commendation (HSC) for her work in championing community benefits from wildlife conservation. She is fluent in English and Swahili.
Munira has a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Tourism Development; BA in Business Studies; Professional skills in Protected Area Management-University of Montana, Missoula, USA, (2005); and Community Based Natural Resource-Management Rhodes University, South Africa, 2002.
Click here to watch Munira’s Keynote Address at the Water in Africa Symposium in April 2019. The two additional keynote addresses from the Symposium, by Coleen Vogel and Line Gordon, are also available for viewing.
Dave Archambault II , 2017 Distinguished Lecturer
Dave Archambault II (Lakota: Tokala Ohitika) is the Senior Fellow for the University of Colorado’s First Peoples Investment Engagement Program and the former Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In 2016, he emerged as a global leader for indigenous peoples’ rights as he led the opposition to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Mr. Archambault would like to thank the Walton Family Foundation for their generous contribution to his work. He also wishes to express his gratitude to Carla Fredericks, Mark Meaney, Rebecca Adamson, Kate Finn, Nick Pelosi, and Zoe Osterman for their guidance and support. Thank you also to the University of Colorado Provost Russell Moore, Colorado Law Dean S. James Anaya, Leeds School of Business Dean Sharon F. Matusik, William Perry, Jan Hasselman, Jodi Gillette, Dean DePountis, Peter Capossela, Nicole Willis, and Nick Tilsen.
The First Peoples Investment Engagement Program (FPIEP) is the successor to First Peoples Worldwide. FPIEP is based at the University of Colorado and works from a foundation of indigenous values to achieve a sustainable future for all. FPIEP facilitates collaboration between indigenous peoples and investors to address the unique social and environmental impacts of corporate development in indigenous communities, while also preparing students to address the pressing social responsibility challenges facing today’s businesses.
Click here for more information on Dave Archambault II’s presentation during the 2017 Stories of Water Equity & Environmental Justice Symposium at CSU.
Eleanor Allen, 2017 Distinguished Lecturer
Eleanor Allen is the CEO of Water For People, a global nonprofit working in nine countries in Africa, Latin America, and India to help develop sustainable water and sanitation services. It is recognized as a leader in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector through its innovative approach to development, which brings together local entrepreneurs, technology, governments, and communities to create quality, reliable, and lasting systems and services.
Prior to Water For People, Eleanor was the Global Director of Water at Arcadis and the Latin America Director of Water at CH2M. She is a professional engineer experienced in leading multi-cultural, global teams in delivering rural and urban infrastructure programs and managing regional and global operations. In 2016, Eleanor did a TEDx talk on Why Water Is A Women’s Issue. In 2016, Eleanor also won the Denver Outstanding Women in Business Award in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction. She is distinguished alum at the University of California at Berkeley Academy for Civil and Environmental Engineering and is on the advisory board at the University of Colorado Mortenson Center for Engineering in Developing Communities. She has lived and worked in many different countries and speaks four languages.
Eleanor Allen was invited to speak as part of our celebration of the 2017 World Water Day.
Mike Connor, 2016 Distinguished Lecturer
Michael L. Connor serves as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. President Obama nominated Connor for the position in July 2013 and the U.S. Senate confirmed him without opposition in February 2014.
As Deputy Secretary, Connor is a key leader in implementing the Administration’s priorities for the Department of the Interior, including water policy and relations in the face of an unprecedented Western drought, as well as serving as the head of the Department’s Land Buy-Back Program, the land consolidation component of the Cobell Settlement.
Connor has more than two decades of experience in the public sector, having served as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation from 2009 to 2014, where he led efforts to promote the sustainable use of water to effectively address current and future challenges associated with water supply and power generation in the American West. As Commissioner, he forged major Indian water rights settlements and worked to resolve water conflicts in California, New Mexico, Oregon and other western states. Connor led the Department of the Interior’s efforts and completed two major binational agreements with Mexico on the Colorado River that have received international attention and acclaim. Connor also directed Reclamation’s efforts to expand hydropower generation at existing facilities.