The river teaches you to watch closely.

For Josh Hess, research specialist in the School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, that mindset now guides his new role as assistant director of the Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute (OEWRI) at Missouri State University.

He joined OEWRI in 2020, where he learned to juggle projects, partners and deadlines. Now, he steps into a leadership role with a clear goal: stay curious and help others grow.

“We wear a lot of different hats here. You have to learn what you don’t know and translate that into a team setting,” he said.

Building on experience

A Missouri State alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in geography and master’s degree in geospatial science in geography, Hess once worked closely with former OEWRI director Dr. Bob Pavlowsky.

As a student, his graduate research focused on the impact of an extreme flood event. He also worked on projects funded by the U.S. Forest Service, investigating hydrologic changes and timber harvest practices. After a short time in consulting following his graduation in 2019, he returned to OEWRI.

In this new role, Hess oversees facilities, equipment and daily operations. He wants to ensure specific tools serve more than one purpose. By expanding how existing technology is used, he hopes to strengthen research without starting from scratch each time.

He also serves as a primary technical lead on grant projects. Over the years, he has built partnerships with different groups.

“Building partnerships locally and regionally helps connect professors to the people who have project needs,” Hess said.

Leading the next chapter

Mentorship sits at the center of Hess’s approach to leadership. He leads by example and keeps his door open to students.

“I always encourage students to ask lots of questions. That’s how you learn to do things the right way,” he said.

Looking ahead, he hopes to work with more faculty across campus and expand OEWRI’s footprint in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences and broader community. His goal is steady progress — practical research that supports both students and the region.

Find out more about the OEWRI