Meet Our Staff
Mona Dominguez
Director & 4-H AWW Program Coordinator
Mona Dominguez joined AWW in 2009 and has served as the Program Director since 2017. She has a B.A. in Anthropology from Sewanee: The University of the South and a Masters of Community Planning from Auburn University. In addition to overseeing the operations of AWW, she develops training materials, facilitates workshops, and seeks out opportunities for collaboration and growth. She also works internationally with the Global Water Watch Program to develop and implement community-based water monitoring programs.
Sergio Ruiz-Cordova
Data Coordinator
Sergio joined AWW in 1993. He has a M.S. in Aquatic Ecology from Auburn University. His work with AWW primarily involves data management and reporting.
Sergio also oversees the Global Water Watch Program including the implementation of all international projects as well as the development and maintenance of the database for GWW projects in other countries.
Sydney Smith Zinner
Volunteer Coordinator
Sydney joined AWW in 2017; however, she has been an AWW volunteer water monitor since 2014 and an AWW volunteer trainer since 2015. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Auburn University. Her work with AWW involves communicating and coordinating with volunteer monitors and trainers, facilitating training workshops, assisting with the 4-H AWW program, and helping the other program staff where needed.
Carolina Ruiz
Program Assistant
Carolina officially joined AWW in 2017, but has been a part of the program for much longer than that… she recalls visiting her dad, Sergio, at the office many times in her youth! Carolina has a B.S. in Interior Design from Auburn University. Her primary responsibilities include data processing and management, workshop prep, volunteer coordination, lab and monitoring kit maintenance, and assisting other program staff with daily operations.
Rachel McGuire
Communications Coordinator
Rachel joined AWW in 2018. Rachel has a B.S. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from NC State University and a M.S. in Wildlife Science from Auburn University. Prior to AWW, she worked as a field biologist for a timber company. Her work with AWW is predominately managing outreach, marketing, and communications as well as assisting with workshop training.
Bill Deutsch
Retired, Research Fellow Emeritus
Bill was a Research Fellow in the AU Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures from 1988 to his retirement in 2013. He is now a Research Fellow, Emeritus in the AU School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, and works part-time for the AU-based programs of Alabama Water Watch and Global Water Watch. Bill is also active with nonprofit organizations, serving on the boards of the AWW Association, the Environmental Education Association of Alabama, and GWW, Inc.