Ian Simpson joined Chagrin River Watershed Partners in July 2026. He works with communities and Central Lake Erie Basin watershed partners on watershed protection and conservation, stormwater management, and restoration initiatives, supporting project development, research collaborations, watershed planning, grant writing, and the integration of natural resource protections into local codes. Previously, Ian was a Research Assistant Professor for the Tennessee Water Resources Research Center at the University of Tennessee. He holds a PhD in Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering from Ohio State University, bachelor’s degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Ohio Northern University, and is a licensed Professional Engineer. His academic research focused on pollutant loadings in urban watersheds, the effectiveness and maintenance of green infrastructure and stormwater control measures, erosion and sediment control at construction sites, water quality trend analysis, and stream degradation and restoration processes. Originally from the Cleveland area, Ian enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, hiking, spending time on Lake Erie, and exploring local parks.