Posted: 5/29/2025
Poetzl takes on extension role in water and cropping systems
By Ronica Stromberg
Anni Poetzl, a 2022 graduate of the School of Natural Resources, returned to the school March 10, 2025, to serve as the water quality extension educator.
Since the position is not new, Poetzl has been building on the work of others and using her past work experiences to address water quality goals.
The Arizona native previously worked two years for the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. There, she served first as a program specialist for the Clean Water Act 404 Program and then as the agency's environmental assistance coordinator.
"I think having that technical background in water and being able to translate that technical jargon into a more palpable form for everyone will be very useful," she said. "I'm excited to see where that goes."
Besides holding a master's degree in natural resource sciences with a specialization in applied ecology from Nebraska, Poetzl earned undergraduate degrees from Arizona State University in literature and in conservation biology and ecology. She also served in the Peace Corps two years, teaching English in Moldova, a country between Romania and the Ukraine.
"I feel like some of my strengths include communication, education and connection, and when I saw this position, of course, having my degree in water quality and starting off in water quality at the Department of Environment and Energy, it really lit this fire," she said.
Since beginning work at Hardin Hall, she has reached out and met with partners and stakeholders across the state to get a comprehensive look at the program. Her extension work focuses on nonpoint source pollution, the pollution in groundwater and surface water that can't be attributed to one source. In prior graduate work in Jessica Corman's lab, she measured nutrients flowing into the North Platte River from streams and studied human dimensions in the area.
Poetzl said she really likes the community aspect of water quality problems and sees herself working as a liaison between the various groups involved with watersheds. She has been going to these communities to understand what water quality issues are pressing for them and approach conversations from their needs.
"Also, trying to ensure if certain water quality issues come up, making sure that there's awareness, conversation, resources, letting these different partners and communities know that they're not alone in addressing them," she said.
Her supervisor, Crystal Powers, has much experience in science communication, and Poetzl said she has been learning from her and the position. She said she is excited to bring her own passion for learning, communicating, science literacy and education to the position.
"As I become more experienced in this role, I can't wait to be able to bring that expertise and help be a springboard, not only to give information, but to, 'OK, maybe I don't know the answer. But I know people who do. So, let me make sure we follow up on this,'" she said.
In time off work, she has continued building Romanian language skills gained during Peace Corps work and spending time with her fiancé in Omaha. She has been showing her family around Nebraska, which she said she has come to love.
"I can't imagine not being in Nebraska," she said. "It's weird because when you're a kid, you're not thinking, 'I'm going to be in this state or this area, maybe even this country.' Who knows where life takes people, but I don't think I ever thought I'd be in Nebraska. But, yeah, it's been amazing."
In one hiking trip in Western Nebraska, she came across prickly pear at the Scotts Bluff National Monument. Although she was used to seeing the flowering cactus at home in Arizona, its appearance in Nebraska caught her by surprise and tugged at her heartstrings. Her love for Nebraska similarly manifested itself slowly and surprisingly.
"When you start on something, it feels like an adventure," she said. "You're not sure what's going to happen, but then, in time as you connect, I think for me that appreciation and love for Nebraska, Nebraskans and everything here just kind of blooms."