This October, Jennifer Delgado joined the Mystic River Watershed Association as our RAY Conservation Fellow Watershed Field Scientist! In this role, Jennifer assists with various water quality monitoring and environmental restoration projects such as the management of stormwater pollution.
Join us in getting to know Jennifer with this fun Q and A:
Q: Tell us about an experience that has led you here:
Looking back there are too many perfect moments that lined me up with MyRWA. It was the way my grandmother and mother connected my sister and I to arid fauna and landscapes that were unique to the town they lived in San Luis Potosí, Mexico at a young age. It was also my home in Houston, Texas where the abundance of water was obvious when we saw the bayou behind our backyard fill with water during hurricane seasons. Maybe it was also the twist of ending up at Carleton College, where they pushed an aspiring English major to take an Introduction to Geology course to fulfill a mandatory quantitative reasoning credit. It definitely was the professor who led me to apply to the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) at UCSC, where I learned that I could mix science and social justice. Finally, it was my mentors from DDCSP that gave me the confidence to apply for the RAY fellowship and made a career in water conservation possible for me. So, I don’t think there really is one experience.
Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
During the pandemic I took up watercolor and combined it with my love for the outdoors. I like to take long walks or hikes and when I find a place that makes me want to take a picture, I sit down with some snacks and spend my time painting. If anyone wants to join in or have recommendations on where to visit in the Boston area, feel free to reach out!
When it is too cold to go outside, I enjoy reading, writing long overdue letters, rewatching Studio Ghibli movies, and cooking for people.
Q: What is your favorite thing to cook?
Pretty much anything, but one I am cooking a lot right now is picadillo with some rice and beans on the side. It is so simple to make, but so flavorful. I also just learned how to make honey garlic chicken which was delicious. I am always looking to learn how to cook something new so please reach out if you have any good recipes to pass on.
Q: What is your favorite thing in nature?
I definitely think trees are my favorite thing, maybe not to paint, but just to watch. They are just so sturdy and sometimes if you get lucky and sit long enough, you can often see all the species that call it home. They are definitely a source of comfort for me. I don’t think I have a favorite tree but I do have favorite memories associated with trees such as pecan picking during the fall in front of our local elementary school. I think those were some of the oldest trees in our neighborhood.
Q: What part of your job are you most excited about?
There are so many things I am excited about. One is definitely working with Andy in the field and in the lab trying to figure out how to get the chloride water quality monitoring projects off the ground. If you know Andy, then you know that next to his plaid shirts, some of his defining traits are his knowledge and kindness — so spending time with him will be incredibly fun. I am also excited to work and learn from the various communities connected to Mystic River watershed. The concept of communities being joined by a water system is new for me, and it is something that I am looking forward to integrating myself in.
Have any questions for Jennifer, want to join her on her painting days, or want to introduce yourself? Feel free to email her at Jennifer.Delgado@mysticriver.org
