Prof. Deborah L. Swackhamer
A longtime professor and administrator at the University of Minnesota, Deborah (Deb) Swackhamer was among the leading voices in the nation at the intersection of science, policy, and water resources. She conducted influential scientific work on the behavior of organic pollutants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In the broader water resources community, she is remembered for her advocacy of scientific integrity and for incorporating science-based knowledge into policy making. This work elevated her to numerous leadership roles at the state, national, and international levels. During her career, Deb mentored students and young faculty and ardently supported them, challenging them to conduct rigorous science, guiding them to successful careers and connecting them with colleagues in her network.
Following Deb’s untimely passing in 2021, the Minnesota Water Resources Conference committee approved a new award to be given in her name. In remembrance of her commitment to early career scientists and professionals, as well as her example of authentic leadership, the Deborah L. Swackhamer Early Career Award is meant to spotlight future leaders in the understanding, management, and care of our water resources.
2025 Deborah L. Swackhamer Awardee
Alycia Overbo, Minnesota Department of Health
Alycia Overbo received her MS in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014. In 2015 she was appointed as a research fellow at the University of North Carolina, conducting a systematic literature review on sanitation policy and programming for development of the World Health Organization Guidelines for Sanitation and Health. She worked on a huge environmental challenge for the State of Minnesota: the fact that we are polluting our streams and lakes with chloride by using road salt, water softener salt, and—Alycia discovered—chloride salts in agricultural applications. Alycia developed a chloride budget for the State of Minnesota through compiling and analyzing various spatial, monitoring, sales, and survey data to estimate contributions of point and nonpoint chloride sources to Minnesota surface waters and groundwater. She then interpreted her findings to identify best management practices for salt use and recommendations for monitoring, research, and policy.
Alycia’s research has become an important part of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s chloride reduction and education practices. It has helped Minnesota better understand on a state level all the sources of chloride impacting our water resources, and revealed that fertilizer and livestock facilities are a much more significant source than was previously known. This prompted the MPCA to develop new resources to address this particular source of chloride. Her work is referenced and highlighted regularly in MPCA’s reports and presentations and has encouraged related research at the University of Minnesota.
In February 2019 Alycia was offered and took a job at the Minnesota Department of Health as the Strategic Initiatives and Communications Planner in the Source Water Protection Unit, and has already been promoted to a supervisor position in the Drinking Water Protection Section, leading special projects on the dissemination of information on complex topics, such as PFAS and contaminants of emerging concern. As a supervisor in this role, she is already providing leadership as the Communications and Strategic Initiatives program expands.
Past Recipients of the Deborah L. Swackhamer Award
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Dr. Bridget Ulrich |
| 2023 | Madeline Nyblade |
| 2024 | Xue Feng, Stephanie Hatzenbihler |
| 2025 | Alycia Overbo |
About the Award
Eligibility
This award is intended to recognize individuals early in their career working toward the betterment of Minnesota water resources. Eligibility is limited to individuals with 10 years or less of relevant experience. Current graduate students are eligible nominees. Current members of the Minnesota Water Resources Conference committee are not eligible.
Selection criteria
Inspired by Deb Swackhamer’s example and the values she imparted on those she mentored, this award will recognize authenticity, integrity, passion, and a mindset of service to others. Nominations should describe an individual’s exceptional contributions that are likely to shape Minnesota's water future. These contributions may include, but are not limited to:
- Collaborating in ways that motivate and build the skills of others
- Advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in workplaces and communities
- Developing innovative approaches to address water resource problems
- Communicating science to elucidate public debate and policy choices