About the NDMC

The National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought, stressing preparedness and risk management rather than crisis management. Most of the NDMC’s services are directed to state, federal, regional, and tribal governments that are involved in drought and water supply planning.

The NDMC, established in 1995, is based in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The NDMC’s activities include maintaining an information clearinghouse and drought portal; drought monitoring, including participation in the preparation of the U.S. Drought Monitor and maintenance of the web site (drought.unl.edu/dm); drought planning and mitigation; drought policy; advising policy makers; collaborative research; K-12 outreach; workshops for federal, state, and foreign governments and international organizations; organizing and conducting seminars, workshops, and conferences; and providing data to and answering questions for the media and the general public. The NDMC is also participating in numerous international projects, including the establishment of regional drought preparedness networks in collaboration with the United Nations’ Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

NDMC Staff
Dr. Michael J. Hayes, Director
Dr. Deborah Bathke, Climatologist
Karin Callahan, GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist
Dr. Ya Ding, Economist
Ann Fiedler, Administrative Assistant
Brian Fuchs, Climatologist
Denise Gutzmer, Drought Impact Reporter Moderator
Dr. Cody L. Knutson, Water Resources Scientist
Jun Li, Programmer
Mark A. Mesarch, Web Designer and Programmer
Jeff Nothwehr, GIS and Research Specialist
Dr. Jae Ryu, Hydrologist/Climate Management Specialist
Soren Scott, GIS Specialist
Kelly Helm Smith, Science Communicator
Meghan Sittler, Research and Outreach Specialist
Mark Svoboda, Climatologist
Dr. Tsegaye Tadesse, Climatologist
Dr. Brian Wardlow, Remote Sensing Specialist
Dr. Donald A. Wilhite, Founder (now Director of UNL’s School of Natural Resources)
Deborah Wood, Publications Specialist
Dr. Donna Woudenberg, Drought Management Specialist

Graduate Students:

Ryan Bjerke, MS Student, Human Dimensions Specialization
Eric Hunt, MS Student, Bio-Atmospheric Interactions Specialization
Sandra Jones, MS Student, Climate Assesment and Impacts Specialization
Deb McGuire, MS Student, Human Dimensions Specialization
Melissa (Melvin) Widhalm, PhD Student, Human Dimensions Specialization