Florida Water Environment Association Student Chapter Fall 2025 Semester Recap

Fall 2025 Seminar

On October 27, 2025, the FWEA Student Chapter hosted their Fall 2025 Seminar. Joan Fernandez, P.E., PMP, and Alex Mass presented about their engineering careers.

As a consultant and project manager, Joan Fernandez provided students with an insightful presentation about her engineering journey and becoming the president of FWEA. Important advice to students included gaining experience through internships and joining organizations, such as FWEA, to network with professionals and gain exposure to the professional world of engineering. 

Alex Mass walked students through working at Heyward Florida Incorporated, a supplier in the water/wastewater industry. Students were introduced some of the projects he has worked on and various technologies being used in the field. It was great opportunity to learn new things and make connections with the content being taught in the water/wastewater course at FAU.

GIS Day Event

On November 17, 2025, the FWEA Student Chapter collaborated with the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and Florida Surveying and Mapping Society (FSMS) Student Chapters to celebrate World GIS Day. 

This was a day of learning with presentations from faculty, students, and industry professionals. The FWEA student chapter’s faculty advisor, Yalan Liu, provided an informative presentation about her research on landfills and issues that local waste management facilities face as South Florida’s population continues to grow. Additionally, she pointed out potential uses of GIS in solid waste management. 

FWEA invited Ryan C. Hepler and Kirk Meyers from CDM Smith to attend the event. They presented GIS projects that they have worked on, providing valuable industry insights to students.