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<br /> <br />Cielo Sharkus PhD <br />STAFF CONSULTANT <br />Associate Consultant <br /> <br />PROFILE <br />Cielo has a doctorate in water resource engineering with a background in systems <br />engineering and community-engaged science communication. She has extensive <br />research and analytical experience as a fellow at the National Science <br />Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of <br />Agriculture. Her expertise lies in the areas of strategic planning, organizational <br />assessment, stakeholder engagement, science communication, qualitative and <br />quantitative data analysis, and community resilience planning. Cielo has led <br />several community-engaged projects for water use, stormwater management, <br />water quality, and environmental risk management. She has also led statewide <br />and national projects on environmental justice and federal compliance with <br />environmental justice regulations. Cielo is an active member of the water and <br />wastewater utility industry, having presented at several industry and academic <br />conferences. She has co-authored three articles on flood risk, exposure, and <br />community resilience to environmental hazards. Cielo recently was the lead <br />author of a textbook chapter, “Understanding Unequal & Cumulative Risks in <br />Our Daily Environment,” for the first edition of Environmental Health: <br />Foundations for Public Health. Prior to working at Raftelis, Cielo worked as a <br />fellow at the National Climate Adaptation Science Center. <br /> <br />KEY PROJECT EXPERIENCE <br />U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science <br />Center: Organizational Assessment (2023-2024) <br />This project involved a USGS bureau-wide equity service assessment by directing <br />an evaluation of the CASCs’ current climate justice-related projects, programs, <br />and efforts as they relate to Executive Orders 12898, 13985, and 14008 and Title <br />VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 statutory requirements. Primary project <br />objectives included the assessment of allocated personnel, the content of proposed <br />and funded projects, operations within project groups, and funding allocated to <br />EJ/DEIA projects to determine organizational effectiveness in management, <br />completion, and compliance of projects to statutory requirements. Cielo <br />conducted individual interviews and focus group observations with executive <br />management and project personnel, created a project-based management plan for <br />improving efficiency, and implemented a series of organizational and policy <br />improvements designed to optimize the allocation of human and financial capital <br />toward the completion of objectives aligned with the EJ/DEIA strategic plan. <br /> <br />U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science <br />Center: Strategic Plan Update (2023-2024) <br />In June 2020, as a part of compliance with Executive Orders 12898, 13985, and <br />14008 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 statutory requirements, the <br />U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center created the <br />Specialties <br />•Community and stakeholder <br />engagement <br />•Organizational assessment <br />•Science communication <br />•Strategic planning <br />•Environmental risk assessment <br />Professional History <br />•Raftelis: Associate Consultant <br />(2024-present) <br />•United States Geological Survey: <br />Environmental Justice, Equity, <br />Inclusion Coordinator (2023-2024) <br />•Northeast Climate Adaptation <br />Science Center: Research Fellow <br />(2021-2023) <br />•The Energy Transition Institute of <br />UMass Amherst: NSF Research <br />Trainee (2021-2024) <br />•University of Massachusetts <br />Amherst: Research Fellow (2019- <br />2024) <br />•Fitchburg Massachusetts <br />Department of Public Works: <br />Research Partner (2018) <br />Education <br />•Doctor of Philosophy in Water <br />Resource Engineering - University <br />of Massachusetts Amherst (2024) <br />•Master of Environmental <br />Engineering – University of <br />Massachusetts Amherst (2021) <br />•Bachelor of Science in <br />Chemistry/Biochemistry, <br />Environmental and Sustainability <br />Studies – Worcester Polytechnic <br />Institute (2019) <br />Certifications <br />•Human Subjects Research <br />Certification - CITI <br />•Water Cyber Infrastructure Training <br />- CUAHSI <br />Professional Memberships <br />•AWWA: NE section <br />•American Society of Civil and <br />Environmental Engineers <br />•American Geophysical Union <br />•American Water Resources <br />Association