Brown and Caldwell announced that its vice president, Kati Bell, has been appointed a fellow of the University of California Irvine Water-Energy Nexus Center (WEX Center).
The WEX Center promotes fundamental and applied research at the water-energy nexus in partnership with industry. Its research focuses on all dimensions of power/energy use and efficiency in the water processing sector, including extraction, treatment, conveyance, reclamation, and reuse.
Fellows of the WEX Center are a group of distinguished industrial scholars of international reputation and visibility who are engaged in collaborative work with faculty and students.
Bell has over 25 years of professional and research experience in water, wastewater, and reuse. She is renowned for her applied research and innovation, advanced technical expertise, and thought leadership. Throughout her distinguished career, Bell has led the development and introduction of new technologies to the U.S. market, many of which have revolutionized the urban water cycle.
As director of research and innovation at Brown and Caldwell, Bell leads the firm’s global alliances with strategic research partners. She directs technical innovation to identify, test, design, permit, and optimize solutions to solve complex water-related challenges facing communities.
“We congratulate Kati on this prestigious, well-deserved recognition,” said Brown and Caldwell CEO Rich D’Amato. “Her knowledge and passion for research and innovation continue to yield game-changing solutions for the advancement of the water industry. We look forward to watching the newest crop of water pioneers grow with the help of Kati’s expert guidance."
An advocate for mentoring the next generation of environmental leaders, Bell is actively involved in academia as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Memphis. She regularly contributes to the advancement of the water industry by authoring peer-reviewed papers, research, and holds leadership positions at numerous professional organizations.
As a WEX Center Fellow, Bell will help the faculty train students to be industry-ready by providing access to previously unavailable project sites and data required to advance research and education at the water-energy nexus.
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Bell is a licensed professional engineer in numerous states and a board-certified environmental engineer. She holds a doctorate in environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University, master’s degrees in civil engineering and biology from Tennessee Technological University, and a bachelor’s in biochemistry from the University of Dallas.
