Donald Hey, a 1963 graduate in civil engineering, is passionate about proving the economic efficiency and sustainability of using restored wetlands for water quality management and flood control. Hey, an executive director and co-founder for Wetlands Research Inc. based in Wadsworth, Illinois, focuses his research on river and wetland restoration throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Hey also works to develop low-cost management programs in order to sustain natural aquatic ecosystems.

Over the past 200 years, the loss of more than 70 million acres of wetlands in the Mississippi River Basin caused poor water quality, increased water pollution and flood damage and reduced wildlife habitat and biodiversity, Hey says. 

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Setting new trends

Setting new trends

Tamiko Youngblood, MinE’92, MS EMgt’94, PhD EMgt’97, was a woman of many “firsts.” She was the first African American woman…

Ruth (Farrar) and Richard Kinsey

Ruth (Farrar) and Richard Kinsey

Ruth (Farrar) met Richard Kinsey on the steps of his fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta in 2011. Ruth grew up in…

Alumni leading the telecommunications industry

Alumni leading the telecommunications industry

Roy Wilkens, EE’66, and Mario A. Padilla, MetE’60, worked for years to challenge and change the status of the telecommunications…

Giving others an opportunity

Giving others an opportunity

Steven Frey works to ensure others have the opportunity to attend graduate programs at S&T like he did. Frey says…

Taylor Husman and Tyler Recker

Taylor Husman and Tyler Recker

Taylor Husman and Tyler Recker met on the patio of Kappa Sigma fraternity on their second night at S&T in…

Suzanna Long: An ‘80s alumna remembers

Suzanna Long: An ‘80s alumna remembers

Engineering management Chair Suzanna Long, who holds four degrees from the university...