Meet Our Team

Meet the staff, leadership, and student members who power the Institute’s work — from research and grant facilitation to project management and outreach. Learn about the diverse roles and dedication of CWI’s community working to support sustainable water-resource efforts across California. 

Division of Research & Education

Leadership

Laura Ramos

Director

Laura Ramos

Laura Ramos serves as director of the California Water Institute, where she leads research, education and stakeholder engagement to advance water management across California’s Central Valley. She oversees CWI’s programs, connecting Fresno State researchers with the water needs of agricultural, urban, environmental and underserved communities.

Laura brings more than 20 years of experience in water resource management to her role. She has led initiatives ranging from a feasibility study on consolidating small water systems to outreach for residents whose wells have gone dry, and was recently named Fresno State’s 2026 President’s Graduate Medalist.

Laura is especially passionate about making water science accessible to diverse communities through bilingual outreach and plain-language communication. As she puts it, “I enjoy providing current research knowledge to water managers and creating a nexus between academia and practical application.” Through this work, Laura supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education and collaboration.

Dr. Thomas Holyoke

Assistant Director

Dr. Thomas Holyoke

Tom serves as Assistant Director for Education and Research at the California Water Institute, where he helps promote its visibility and education goals.

As an Assistant Director, Tom helps with grant writing. He also helps CWI pursue its education goals, helping Fresno State students better understand the crucial role water plays in the San Joaquin Valley by developing and promoting the new Water Minor. He also promotes CWI’s visibility by writing editorials on water related topics.

Tom received his Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University. Since coming to Fresno State, he has become an expert in water policy and is author of the book Water Politics (2023, Routledge).

Growing up in western Nebraska, Tom gained an appreciation for irrigated agriculture and the important role government plays in bringing water to farmers.

Through this work, Tom supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education and collaboration.

Cordie Qualle

Assistant Director

Cordie Qualle

Mr. Qualle is an Assistant Director for Research and Education at the California Water Institute at Fresno State. He assists Director Laura Ramos with technical water issues such as water master planning, hydrology, and hydraulic operations of water facilities.

Mr. Qualle, a licensed Civil Engineer, worked in water related design projects for 40 years in both public and private arenas. He earned a master’s in Civil Engineering in 2007 and taught in the Civil and Geomatics Engineering Department at Fresno State for 16 years after that.

Understanding the wicked water problems facing California requires both technical and a societal analysis of the problem. CWI’s mission to educate students and the public on both the problems and available solutions requires this kind of wholistic approach. Mr. Qualle assists Director Ramos by providing a technical understanding of the problems within the multidisciplinary approach used by CWI to address those wicked water problems.

Staff

Jase Trovao

Project Manager

Jase Trovao

Jase Trovao serves as Project Manager at the California Water Institute, where he oversees project reports, schedules, budgets, deadlines, and deliverables related to each grant and contract received by the California Water Institute.

Jase graduated from Fresno State with a bachelor’s degree in communications, and he brings experience in managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and managing ever-changing calendars from his previous role as a service/billing tech at Matson alarm company in Fresno.

Jase was previously an intern for the Water, Energy, and Technology Center on the Fresno State campus, where he first learned about water issues through creating graphics and videos for the center. He is motivated to learn more about the management of water in California and how he can assist in efforts throughout the valley. Through this work, Jase supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education, and collaboration.

Julissa Zavala

Grants and Contracts Facilitator

Julissa Zavala

Julissa Zavala serves as the grants and contracts facilitator at the California Water Institute, where she researches funding opportunities and helps prepare and submit grant proposals and applications. She also supports written communications for CWI, helping ensure materials shared with university and community partners are clear and accessible.

Julissa earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism from Fresno State. Before moving into grant development, she spent several years reporting for local newspapers. Her journalism background brings strong research, editing and storytelling skills to her work and helps her translate complex project ideas into compelling narratives.

Born and raised in the Central Valley, Julissa values knowing that her work extends beyond CWI and contributes to projects that benefit communities in California. This broader impact gives purpose to her role in grant development. Through this work, Julissa supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education and collaboration.

Catherine Barnett

Director’s Assistant

Catherine Barnett

Catherine Barnett serves as Administrative Assistant at the California Water Institute, where she assists the director with scheduling, coordinating communication and supporting team operations. Her organization, responsiveness and attention to detail help CWI staff work and focus on projects serving communities.

Catherine earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an option in marketing from Fresno State. Before joining CWI, she worked as an assistant manager at Citibank, supporting branch operations, supervising staff and stepping in for the manager as needed. This experience strengthened her skills in communication, teamwork, and coordination.

Catherine values the opportunity to use her organizational abilities and experience working with people to help CWI become the best it can be. She is motivated by creating a supportive workplace where colleagues can collaborate, meet shared goals, and make a difference. Through this work, Catherine supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education, and collaboration.

Kaylie Rogers

Event and Office Coordinator

Kaylie Rogers

Kaylie Rogers serves as the Event and Office Coordinator at the California Water Institute, where she plans events including conferences, webinars, community workshops, and water related bootcamps that advance CWI’s outreach, education and engagement with communities and water stakeholders. She also supports office operations and staff coordination, helping create an organized and efficient work environment for student employees, interns and staff at CWI.

Kaylie earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno, and a master’s degree in human resource management from National University. Her background in human resources strengthens her ability to support personnel processes, maintain compliance and help employees move efficiently through the hiring process.

Kaylie values the role thoughtfully planned events play in connecting people with information, expertise and collaborative solutions to the water challenges facing the San Joaquin Valley. Through this work, Kaylie supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education and collaboration.

Students

Ysabella Ramirez

Ysabella Ramirez

Ysabella Ramirez serves as a student assistant at the California Water Institute, where she develops and manages social media campaigns that communicate CWI’s programs and work to the public. She creates, schedules, and publishes content, monitors social media analytics, designs marketing materials, and provides photography and media coverage for events.

Ysabella is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an option in marketing at California State University, Fresno. Her experience spans social media, content development, photography, graphic design, and digital marketing. At CWI, she has had the opportunity to apply her marketing education while gaining experience across different areas of the field.

Ysabella values the opportunity to explore different areas of marketing while developing her creative skills and learning how to create meaningful results. She is especially proud of growing CWI’s LinkedIn presence by combining marketing strategy with photography and engaging content.

Through this work, Ysabella supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education and collaboration.

Victoria Vera

Victoria Vera

Victoria Vera serves as marketing student assistant at the California Water Institute, where she creates materials that communicate CWI’s programs and resources to the public. She supports flyers, publications, website content, newsletters, and email campaigns. Her work presents water information in an engaging and accessible way.

Victoria is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an option in marketing at California State University, Fresno. Her position at CWI is her first professional experience, allowing her to apply classroom knowledge to communications for a public-serving organization. Through her work, she continues strengthening her skills in content development, design, and digital marketing.

Victoria values the opportunity to use creativity and marketing to make educational information easier to understand. She is motivated by creating materials that connect audiences with CWI’s work and water issues. Through this work, Victoria supports CWI’s mission to address California’s water challenges through research, education, and collaboration.

Graciela Gastelum

Graciela Gastelum

Graciela Gastelum serves as an accounting student assistant at the California Water Institute, where she reviews invoices, reconciles various accounts, and ensures audit readiness. She supports the institute by maintaining proper financial documentation, so it is easily accessible.

Graciela is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an option in accounting at California State University, Fresno. She is also currently preparing for the CPA exam, which she plans to take promptly after graduation. Through her work at CWI, she has had the opportunity to apply her classroom knowledge while also building the soft skills needed to communicate effectively in professional settings.

Graciela values the work CWI does with rural communities because she grew up in a small agricultural town. She is motivated by learning more about her field. She values the learning environment CWI has created for her and values supporting CWI’s mission in education and water challenges.