Northland College has revised its academic programs as of Fall 2024. Some pages may refer to previous programs while updates are made to reflect our refocused offerings.

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Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation

Research and leadership on fresh water.

The Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation focuses on scientific research, communication, and thought leadership on water issues in the Great Lakes region and beyond. The Burke Center specializes in “translating” science to the general public, government agencies, NGOs, agriculture, and the private sector, helping to edify water policy in a wide variety of geographies and subject areas. As society enters an era of increasing water tension and scarcity, a key goal of the Burke Center is to improve water literacy among people everywhere.

The Burke Center promotes the health and sustainable use of the world’s freshwater resources, one of the greatest global challenges of our time. As public policy has evolved to address these challenges, it has become clear that effective and lasting solutions to complex water problems require an integration of insights from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

In order for society to sustain the health of its freshwater resources, it is essential that leaders think critically across disciplines and collaborate to identify creative solutions and inspire action. The Burke Center addresses these needs by integrating education, research, and outreach programs at Northland College with the resources of the Forest Lodge Educational Campus to:

train future water resource stewards,
develop solutions to water resource problems, and
catalyze conversations among regional, national, and international leaders on sustainable freshwater use.

With facilities located in both the Great Lakes watershed (on campus) and the Mississippi River watershed (at Forest Lodge), the Burke Center is uniquely positioned to conduct science and outreach in two of the largest watersheds in North America.

Meet the Burke Center Staff

For any questions, please email the Burke Center at burkecenter@northland.edu.

Peter Annin

Director of the Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation
Cayla Cavey

Assistant Operations and Lab Manager
Tom Fitz

Adjunct Professor of Geoscience
Affiliated Faculty, Burke Center
Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation
Matt Hudson

Associate Director—Great Lakes, Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation
Alissa Hulstrand

Associate Professor of Biology
Affiliated Faculty, Burke Center
Sarah Johnson

Professor of Natural Resources
Affiliated Faculty, Burke Center
Peter Levi

Associate Director—Inland Lakes, Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation
David Ullman

Associate Professor of Geoscience
Affiliated Faculty, Burke Center

Contact Us

For any questions, please feel free to contact the Burke Center.

Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation
Northland College
1411 Ellis Avenue
Ashland, Wisconsin 54806

Meet our Student Researchers

Mike Boland

Mike Boland is a rising sophomore majoring in natural resources with an emphasis in ecological restoration. This will be Mike’s first year at the Burke Center, and he is most excited for field work. He wants to learn more about the aquatic ecosystems in northern Wisconsin and is glad to be doing so through field work.

Gabby Buckholt

Gabby Buckholt is a rising junior double majoring in geology and natural resources with an emphasis in ecological restoration. This is her first year at the Burke Center, and they are most excited to be on the science communication team and to gain skills in science communication and outreach. She is hoping to go into a field where science communication will be a key part of her role.

Kathryn Gentner

Kathryn Gentner is a rising senior majoring in water science with an emphasis in water resources and a minor in sociology and social justice. Returning to the Burke Center for her second year, she is most excited for the continued research in the Namekagon chain and the buoy project. She feels at peace on the lake, so she is excited to continue with this project.

Shelby Justman

Shelby Justman is a rising junior double majoring in geology and water science. This will be her first year at the Burke Center, and she is most excited for the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage project. She sees this project as a good way to learn about native and non-native aquatic vegetation.

Baz Leman

Baz Leman is a rising sophomore majoring in geology. This will be his first year at the Burke Center, and he is most excited to work in the lab this summer. He enjoys lab work for the routine and the precise skills it takes and is excited to learn more.

Tennessee Swearingen

Tennessee Swearingen graduated from Northland in 2024 and received her BS in biology with a minor in sociology. Returning to the Burke Center for her second year, she is most excited to be a part of the science communication team. Tennessee has a passion to make science more accessible and easier to understand for the general public, so this will be the highlight of her summer.

Mallory Tscheu

Mallory Tscheu is a rising junior majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. Returning to the Burke Center for her second year, they are most excited to continue beach monitoring and participate in the Dragonfly Mercury Project. Mallory is the lead in the lab and on beaches this year and enjoys bugs, making these her most-anticipated projects of the summer.

Grey Villarreal

Grey Villarreal is a rising junior majoring in water science and geology. Returning to the Burke Center for his second year, he’s most excited for the Dragonfly Mercury Project and the Zebra Mussel Project. Both projects use small organisms to evaluate ecosystem health. As someone who is fascinated by critters that live in water, these two are his top picks.