Introducing Katie Pekarek

Katie Pekarek sells tomatoes during a farmer's market.
Katie Pekarek sells tomatoes during a farmer's market.

She stood in her snake chaps, a shovel in her hand in case any snakes chose to get unruly. Thigh-deep in North Carolina brackish water, Katie Pekarek was at work researching constructed and natural wetlands for her master’s degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a thick, rope-like body gliding through the water. As the large snake passed next to her leg, Katie smiled. It was all in a day’s work in the water she loved.

Five years have passed since the snake-chaps era of her life, but as Katie Pekarek steps into her newest role as an assistant extension educator in water quality for SNR, she continues to build upon her passion for this invaluable natural resource.

“Water is Nebraska’s most valuable resource,” said Pekarek. “Everyone depends upon it. Somehow I always knew water was important, but the older I get, the more people I meet, the more I understand how important it is.”

Pekarek describes herself as a lifelong outdoors person who’s passionate about conservation and wise utilization of freshwater. “You can’t disconnect the functionality of water with environmental responsibility and what’s happening in treatment,” she explained.

To study water treatment, Pekarek pursued a bachelor’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering from UNL and attended North Carolina State for a master’s in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a minor in Water Resources. “I love to solve problems,” she explained. “So engineering was a good fit for my brain. Biological engineering was perfect: I could combine engineering technologies with biology and chemistry to develop solutions.”

Her engineering background unfolded into extension education, where she now fields questions and keeps stakeholders up-to-date with important findings emerging out of water research. “Extension education is problem solving, too,” Pekarek said, “but I also get to integrate research and new developments.”

“I get to help Nebraskans and beyond turn the latest knowledge into know-how, giving them the confidence, skills and understanding to achieve their objectives, increase effectiveness, strengthen bottom lines or simply improve quality.”

Pekarek started as an extension educator in stormwater management at UNL. Now, she is developing a 5-year plan focused on water quality in Nebraska. She is specifically interested in non-point source pollution, freshwater ecosystems, and the relationship between surface and groundwater.

“Getting to know people and the potential success we can have as outreach educators is the best part of my job,” Pekarek said. “There are a lot of people doing a lot of great things.” Pekarek is excited to be a part of the team.

When Pekarek is not in one of her offices—she has one in Hardin Hall, one in Nebraska’s Department of Environmental Quality building, and one in the Seward County Extension Office—you’ll likely find her in Dwight, Nebraska, where she and her family run a vegetable and row-crop farm.

SNR is excited to work with Pekarek and congratulates her on her new role.


-Michelle Hubele Rubin