People
Brian Chaffin, Assistant Professor of Water Policy & Governance
Brian Chaffin is an assistant professor in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation at the University of Montana. His teaching and research focus on complex questions of water policy and governance, including the emerging realities of administering systems of prior appropriation water rights in a changing climate and amid shifting social values. A human geographer by training, Dr. Chaffin leverages theories of complex systems with an application of mixed social science research methods to better understand how informal aspects of water governance (e.g., social norms and collaborative networks) influence and are influenced by social-hydrologic conditions on the landscape. Dr. Chaffin works closely with ecologists and hydrologists in a focused effort to span boundaries between disciplinary science, interdisciplinary synthesis and environmental decision making. Dr. Chaffin’s research spans both urban and rural settings and is funded through grants from the National Science Foundation and NASA. Prior to joining UM, Dr. Chaffin worked as a wilderness river guide, a river ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and a research fellow at the U.S. EPA charged with examining the role of green infrastructure (bio-infiltration) in mitigating violations to the Clean Water Act in major U.S. cities.
Kristin Sleeper, Ph.D. Student
Kristin Sleeper is a Ph.D. student in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation. Kristin’s research interests focus on collaborative governance, social-ecological resilience and water law with the aim to create more flexible, dynamic and just forms of environmental governance in the American West. Kristin grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental biology and zoology from Michigan State University in 2010. She then went on to receive a Master of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in 2013. After graduation, Kristin received the Presidential Management Fellowship and began working for the U.S. Forest Service in Delta, Colorado, as an environmental planner. Since then, she has held many positions with the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C. and more recently with the Department of the Interior. At the University of Montana, Kristin’s research focuses on characterizing the role of informal governance networks in building social-hydrological resilience in Montana. Kristin is also an UM BRIDGES fellow focusing on governance issues at the food-energy-water nexus. When not studying or working, Kristin can be found hanging out with her husband and dogs, cheering for Michigan State or drinking craft beer.
Amber Datta, Ph.D. Student
Amber Datta is a Ph.D. student undertaking research on the governance of coral reefs in the Pacific. She was born and raised in Hawaii and is driven to find ways to improve marine resource decision-making to address challenges facing governments and local communities dealing with climate change. She is particularly interested in how those responsible for making decisions about coral reef management can adapt to rapid changes, such as the rise of sea temperatures and the bleaching of coral reefs. Amber graduated from Pomona College in 2013 with a degree in environmental analysis and a focus in biology. She spent three years working with the Michigan Chapter of The Nature Conservancy on a collaborative coastal conservation project before entering the M.S. resource conservation program at the University of Montana. She took a degree option in international conservation and development and focused her thesis on the governance of inshore fisheries in the Solomon Islands. In her free time she enjoys hiking, scuba diving, horseback riding, reading and seeking out the nearest river, lake or ocean.
Jordan Jimmie, M.S. Student
Jordan Jimmie is a proud member of the Navajo Nation and is a native to Flagstaff, Arizona. In 2017, Jordan graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in environmental hydrology and water resources. He is a former Udall Native American Congressional Intern ('16), having served as an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources. The past two summers he participated in a summer research expedition in the heart of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to collect hydrologic field data regarding physical changes in tundra lakes and ponds, which was analyzed at the Woods Hole Research Center, in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He chose to pursue a Master of Science in Forestry at the University of Montana to study tribal water policy, all while discovering how hydrology fits into quantifying Indian water rights during settlement negotiations. Additionally, he is also interested in how tribes are asserting sovereignty through innovations in the food-energy-water nexus, particularly for Montana nations. He is a UM BRIDGES fellow and an American Indian Graduate Center Fellow. His future career goals include serving as a water expert for tribal nations looking to settle their water rights. Further, he strives to eventually serve as a tribal college professor, with hopes of inaugurating a hydrology program at the institution. When Jordan is not studying, he can be found working out at the UM recreation center, running the many trails in Missoula, attending church or volunteering with the UM Native community.
Jennifer Harrington, M.S. Student
Jennifer Harrington, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa, grew up in Missoula, Montana. In 2015, Jen graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Resource Conservation. Following her graduation, Jennifer was appointed to the Missoula Water Quality Advisory Council. One of her priorities is to follow the charge of the Clean Water Act, as she works to protect, restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of Missoula County. During the summer of 2017, Jennifer began working with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribe to develop recommendations for the characterization and restoration of a contaminated former mill site, as informed by tribal consultation and involvement. Jen is a Sloan Fellow and a Hopa Mountain Fellow. She began working with the Willow AGEP Alliance in 2018, a National Science Foundation-funded project which aims to increase success of Native American faculty and advance knowledge about issues impacting their career progression in STEM fields. After completing her degree, Jen will continue to work on environmental justice issues, with a focus on access to clean water.
Corey Hall, Undergraduate Researcher
Corey Hall is an undergraduate student majoring in resource conservation, minoring in ecological restoration and workign toward a GIS certification in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation. She was born and raised in Missoula, Montana, and graduated from Willard Alternative High School. Her undergraduate research has focused primarily on GIS analysis of water rights and over-allocation of streams in Montana. Her interests expanded after working for wildfire dispatch and producing Total Flight Restriction maps for firefighting purposes. She hopes to continue to study water allocation and availability in Montana’s watersheds using GIS and spatial analyzation to increase public knowledge of water use. Her future goals include furthering her research in water allocation and embarking on a career in GIS mapping of wildfire and other restoration projects. In her free time she enjoys hiking in the Rattlesnake Wilderness, watching classic movies while curled up with her dogs and cat, and spending time with friends and family on the deck of one of Missoula’s various craft beer venues.