(L-r) USWA Chief Strategy Officer Renee Willette, DSU CAST Dean Cherese Winstead, Andrew Sawyer of the EPA's Office of Water, USWA Program Manager Maura Jarvis, DSU Program Manager Jason Nunley, College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences Associate Dean Kimeu Boynton, and College of Business faculty member Wade Robinson gather for a photo before the DSU-US Water Alliance partnership event. — *In this photo:* (L-r) USWA Chief Strategy Officer Renee Willette, DSU CAST Dean Cherese Winstead, Andrew Sawyer of the EPA’s Office of Water, USWA Program Manager Maura Jarvis, DSU Program Manager Jason Nunley, College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences Associate Dean Kimeu Boynton, and College of Business faculty member Wade Robinson gather for a photo before the DSU-US Water Alliance partnership event.

On Campus

DSU, US Water Alliance launch partnership

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Delaware State University has expanded its water resources outreach by finalizing a partnership with the US Water Alliance (USWA) to provide water and wastewater technical assistance to underserved communities in Delaware and beyond.

The new partnership – the first between the USWA and a Historically Black Institution of Higher Education – was celebrated with a community event on Dec. 5 in the auditorium of the University’s Bank of America Building.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has supported this water quality initiative with a $13 million grant, $2 million of which will go to DSU for the work it will do in the project.

Dr. Cherese Winstead, Dean of the DSU College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (CAST), said this is an important endeavor for DSU. DSU and U.S. Water Alliance officials, along with DSU students gather for a Kodiak moment.

“The grant will support our work to address environmental justice issues in disadvantaged communities with contaminated waters and poor water systems,” Dean Winstead said. “Who best to address these issues than an HBCU like DSU?”

CAST’s Water Analysis Laboratory is expected to be an important resource in the DSU-USWA initiative.

“The fact that DSU has one of only two accredited water labs at a university in the country is remarkable and will add such value to our community assistance effort across the country,” said Renee Willette, USWA Chief Strategy Officer. “Connecting students to real-life water quality needs in communities is a wonderful opportunity.”

Ms. Willette said that DSU will be engaged in community assistance projects in Delaware and communities throughout the country that need such help.

These efforts will be housed under DSU’s new Center for Environmental Justice, set to open as part of the partnership. The Center will launch a novel workforce development program, offering students externships and other unique opportunities to gain hands-on experience with local governments, water utilities, and communities needing water infrastructure investment.

The Center will also contribute to the US Water Alliance’s robust technical assistance offerings in support of community-centered infrastructure planning, including environmental justice screenings, asset mapping, and research. Lastly, this exciting partnership will empower Environmental Finance Centers to assist disadvantaged communities in accessing DSU’s state-of-the-art Water Quality Lab for extensive water testing.

“Delaware State University proudly embraces this groundbreaking partnership with the US Water Alliance National Environmental Finance Center,” said Jason Nunley, DSU Program Director for the initiative.