Tolessa Deksissa, Ph.D.

Dr. Tolessa Deksissa is an accomplished environmental scientist and Director of the Water Resources Research Institute at the University of the District of Columbia, where he leads cutting-edge research on urban water quality, emerging contaminants, and sustainable stormwater management. With expertise in integrated water systems modeling, environmental toxicology, and quality assurance for accredited laboratories, his work bridges scientific innovation with practical applications to enhance water sustainability and ecosystem resilience.

Experience

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Biological Sciences: Environmental Technology, Ghent University 
Master of Science in Environmental Science, Ghent University 
Bachelor of Science in Arid Land Crop Sciences, Haramaya University of Agricultural Science

Roles

Director, Water Resources Research Institute, UDC, 2012-Present 
Founding Director, Professional Science Master’s in Water Resources Management, CAUSES, UDC, 2009-Present 
Founding Technical Director and Quality Assurance Officer, Environmental Quality Testing Laboratory, CAUSES, UDC, 2008-Present 
Research Associate, Agricultural Experiment Station and DC Water Resource Research Institute, UDC, 2006-2012 

Courses Taught

Water Quality Assessment, Monitoring & Treatment  
Water Quality Modeling  
Environmental Toxicology  
Urban Water Quality Management  
Environments and Sustainability   
Environmental Studies and Sustainability 

Expertise

Strategic Program Development 
Extensive Research  
Demonstrated Laboratory Leadership 
Grant Writing and Fundraising 
Extensive Teaching Experience 

Research Focus / Works in Progress

Assessing stormwater green infrastructure; modeling urban wastewater systmes; emerging contiminants research; water quality monitoring; contaminant fate and trasnport studies; dynamic modeling projects 

Leadership

Director, Water Resources Research Institute, UDC, 2012-Present 
Secretary, Executive Advisory Board, American Water Resources Association (AWRA), North Capitol Region Section, 2023-Present 
Immediate Past President, Executive Advisory Board, AWRA, North Capitol Region Section, 2021-22 
Founding Director, Professional Science Master’s in Water Resources Management, CAUSES, UDC, 2009-Present 
Founding Technical Director and Quality Assurance Officer, Environmental Quality Testing Laboratory, CAUSES, UDC, 2008-Present 
President, Executive Board, AWRA, North Capitol Region Section, 2019-21 

Impact

Selected Publications

Deksissa, T. (2024). Unlocking excellence: A journey to self-development. Independently Published. 

Deksissa, T. (2023). Urban stormwater runoff for potable use: Potential and challenges. In T. Younos, J. Lee, & T.E. Parece (Eds.), Alternative water sources for producint potable water: Advances in research & technology. Springer. 

Deksissa, T., Trobman, H., Zendehdel, K., & Azam, H. (2021). Integrating urban agriculture and stormwater management in a circular economy to enhance ecosystem services: Connecting the dots. Sustainability, 13(15), 8293. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158293 

Selected Presentations

Deksissa, T. (2022). Stormwater quality treatment with bioretention cell: Is it a filter or sponge? UCOWR/NIWR Annual Water Resources Conference, Greenville, South Carolina. 

Deksissa, T. (2020). Monitoring PFAS in the Environment. PFAS in Water: Policy and Management, NCR-AWRA Symposium, Washington, D.C. 

Selected Grants

United States Geological Survey. (2014). Water resources research. 

National Science Foundation. (2022). Integrating water-energy-food-climate nexus into undergraduate engineering and science education.  

Department of Defense. (2022). Instrument award. 

National Science Foundation. (2015). Project Firebirds reinventing STEM teaching. 

Recognitions

Inducted into Marquis Who's Who of 2024 
Recipient, National Black Engineer of the Year in Research Leadership, 2022 
Quality Matters-Certified in Online Course Designing and Teaching  
Recipient, Myrtilla Miner Faculty Fellowship 
Recipient, Wave of Excellency Award, University of the District of Columbia. 

Invited Participations

Deksissa, T. (2024). Advancing sustainable water resource management: Bridging research, industry needs, and student training through an accredited environmental quality testing laboratory. The American Geophysical Union Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.  

Deksissa, T. (2024). Harvesting urban stormwater: Exploring potential and overcoming challenges for potable use. The ARCSA 19th Annual Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Deksissa, T. (2023). The role of land grant model & community engagement for community climate action. 17th Biennial Conference on Communication and the Environment, Harrisonburg, Virginia.