MPP Spotlight: Eliza Stokes
Eliza Stokes is a 2nd-year Master of Public Policy student concentrating in Environmental & Water Policy, and also works as a Growing Water Smart Program Manager at the Sonoran Institute. Through her work Eliza facilitates and supports teams of municipal, county, and water utility leaders in Arizona, Colorado, California, and sister cities along the U.S.-Mexico Border to integrate water sustainability into their land use plans and policies – resulting in locally-driven actions to build long-term water resilience across the Colorado River Basin. Prior to Growing Water Smart, Eliza was the Communications & Campaign Manager at the Tucson-based Watershed Management Group, where she worked to increase the adoption of sustainable local water solutions like rainwater and greywater harvesting, indoor water efficiency, and low-impact development.
Before moving to Tucson in 2021, Eliza worked for almost four years at the environmental organization MountainTrue in Asheville, North Carolina, leading local and statewide policy advocacy to expand renewable energy, increase funding for public transportation, and improve water quality. Eliza double majored in Global Studies and Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College near Asheville, where the unique curriculum combines academics, on-campus work, and community engagement for all students.
Eliza was first drawn to the MPP program because of its accommodation of students working full-time, allowing her to go back to school while continuing her career. She chose the program to build her expertise in policy issues specific to the Southwest, as well as to deepen her understanding of economic theory and evidence-based policy analysis. Highlights of her time in the MPP program include Amanda Jones’ Utilities Management course and Sharon Megdal’s Water Policy in Arizona & Semi-Arid Regions course. In these classes she got to hear directly from prominent water and environmental professionals as guest speakers, ask them questions, and discuss real-world policy implications in a seminar format. Topics discussed in these classes would often show up directly in her work a few days later, and she was grateful to be able to have strong reference points to understand and address these issues.
Eliza is proud to currently lead the Growing Water Smart program in Arizona, which has now supported 32 communities in the state in developing 12-18 month water resilience action plans. Last year she presented to members of the AZ legislature about Growing Water Smart at the Capitol and was also a speaker at the 2024 Arizona State Planning Conference on a panel about the successes of Globe and Miami, AZ in developing low water use landscape codes and passive rainwater harvesting ordinances through their participation in Growing Water Smart.
After she graduates this May, Eliza looks forward to deepening this important work to expand water and climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in the Southwest – hopefully with a little more free time on her hands! She also hopes to make more time for non-academic writing and to take a trip to Europe that includes an overnight train ride.