Sharon Megdal PhD

Director, Water Resources Research Center
Endowed Professor, C W/Modene Neely
Specialist, Soil/Water and Environmental Science
Professor, Agricultural-Resource Economics
Professor, Soil/Water and Environmental Science
Professor, School of Geography and Development
Professor, Public Administration and Policy
Professor, Public Health
Distinguished Outreach Professor
Professor, James E Rogers College of Law
Professor, Judaic Studies
Professor, Arid Lands Resources Sciences - GIDP
Professor, Planning

Member of the General Faculty

Sharon B. Megdal is Director of The University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), an Extension center and a research unit in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She also holds the titles: Professor and Specialist, Department Soil, Water, and Environmental Science; C.W. & Modene Neely Endowed Professor; and Distinguished Outreach Professor. She serves as Director of the University of Arizona Water, Environmental and Energy Solutions Program, which is funded by the University of Arizona Technology Research Initiative Fund (TRIF).

The geographic scope of Dr. Megdal’s work on water policy and management ranges from local to international. Current projects include: comparative evaluation of water management, policy, and governance in growing, water-scarce regions; groundwater management and governance; groundwater recharge; and transboundary aquifer assessment. She is the lead editor of the book, Shared Borders, Shared Waters: Israeli-Palestinian and Colorado River Basin Water Challenges. She also has served as lead guest editor for multiple special issues of the journal Water and her compendium of water policy columns can be found at https://wrrc.arizona.edu/columns.  Dr. Megdal teaches the multi-disciplinary graduate course Water Policy in Arizona and Semi-arid Regions.

Current professional service activities include: Immediate Past President, Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR); Board President, International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC); and Board Member, American Water Resources Association (AWRA). Since January 2009, Sharon has represented the residents of Pima County on the Board of Directors for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, also known as the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The board is responsible for the policies, rates and taxes associated with delivering Colorado River water through the Central Arizona Project canal. Since February 2016, Sharon has served as Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District and Underground Storage Committee. Dr. Megdal has served on numerous Arizona boards and commissions, including the Arizona Corporation Commission, the State Transportation Board, and the Arizona Medical Board. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Princeton University and an A. B. degree in Economics from Douglass College of Rutgers University. 

Courses:
Dissertation
ARL 920 (Spring 2019)
Water Policy in AZ & Semi-arid
ENVS 596B (Spring 2019)
Water Policy in AZ & Semi-arid
HWRS 596B (Spring 2019)
Water Policy in AZ & Semi-arid
LAW 596B (Spring 2019)