GIWS associate director Jeff McDonnell received the J.W. George Ivany Internationalization Award during Fall Convocation on October 24, 2015. This award recognizes an individual who enhances the university’s international visibility and stimulates a global perspective in our students – a description that undeniably fits Jeff. He is a highly prolific, internationally recognized scholar with a focus on providing exceptional student training.
A highly respected watershed hydrologist, Jeff has mentored and inspired generations of young scientists. He stresses the importance of expanding horizons for our students, and encourages them to conduct studies in his international research sites and working with partner institutions. Most importantly, he gives his students access to his exceptional network of international experts – whether that be in Brazil, Chile, China, the US or the UK. Here at GIWS, he has spearheaded many initiatives for students, including the Distinguished Lecture Series, the new Master of Water Security degree program, and the ‘How to Launch an Academic Career’ workshop, among others. He places importance on mentoring and launching the research careers of his team members and ensuring they have the skills to succeed in their field.
In the last four years alone, Jeff has published 64 papers, including two in the prestigious journal Nature. He has received 24 international awards in recognition of his service, research and training track record, including Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the John Dalton Medal from the European Geosciences Union. These achievements are highly regarded by his peers, as evidenced by his election as President of the Hydrology Section of the American Geophysical Union in 2014.