Catherine DeLong is the Water Quality Program Manager for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. She works statewide to bring people together to share resources, ideas and perspectives about water quality, and to help Iowans understand the role they can play in the future of Iowa’s water. Catherine connects researchers to practitioners and the general public and helps to translate water quality science to a broad audience. She also builds coalitions and new programs to meet current and future needs. Catherine has a background in soil science and agricultural policy and has experience at all levels of conservation, having previously worked for the county-level Soil and Water Conservation Districts as well as an international non-profit serving conservation professionals.