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SDSU Extension

Laura Edwards

Laura Edwards

Title

SDSU Extension State Climatologist

Office Building

Off-Campus

Mailing Address

SDSU Extension Aberdeen Regional Center
13 2nd Ave SE
Aberdeen, SD 57401

Social Media Links

Education

  • B.S. in physics and French | University of Minnesota | 1999
  • M.S. in meteorology | University of Maryland | 2003

Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees

  • Professional Staff Advisory Council, elected in 2022. Historian 2023-present.

Professional Memberships

  • American Association of State Climatologists
  • National Association of County Agricultural Agents
  • American Meteorological Society, member since 2002. Currently serving on Board for Representation, Accessibility, Inclusion and Diversity (BRAID). Past positions held include Chair and Conference Chair for Committee on Applied Climatology and Conference Chair for Board on Atmospheric Biogeosciences.
  • South Dakota Association of Agricultural Extension Professionals, President 2021-present. Vice President 2019-2021. Finance chair for national meeting in 2015. Member 2012-present.

Extension Responsibilities

  • Point of contact for state and university climatology outreach and extension. 
  • Coordinate and lead SDSU Extension projects on weather, climate and agriculture. 
  • Liaison with SD Mesonet group, State Fire Meteorologist, university personnel, state and federal agencies on weather, climate, natural hazards and emergency management.

Some projects include: Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Climate Change Resilience, North Central Region Water Network Climate Team co-leader, SD liaison for USDA Northern Plains Climate Hub, SD Drought Task Force, SD Department of Agriculture pesticide education. 

Awards and Honors

  • 2022, Distinguished Service Award, NACAA 
  • 2018, Achievement Award, NACAA 
  • 2016, Certificate of Achievement, AMS Policy Colloquium 

Work Experience

  • January 2017-present, South Dakota State climatologist, South Dakota State University Extension, Aberdeen
  • July 2016-January 2017, Acting South Dakota State climatologist, South Dakota State University Extension, Aberdeen
  • December 2011-July 2016, Extension climate field specialist, South Dakota State University Extension, Aberdeen
  • November 2003-December 2011, Assistant research climatologist, Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute, Reno Nevada 

Department(s)