Lisa Hoaks

I began my career with the Oregon Water Science Center (ORWSC) in early 2017 as a field assistant—completely green to USGS operations. Thanks to the patience and mentorship of my colleagues, I was trained up as a hydrologic technician. For several years, I operated 11 streamflow and water quality gages around Springfield, Oregon, and maintained water quality gages in the Santiam Basin. That hands-on field experience gave me a strong foundation in hydrologic science and a deep appreciation for the work we do.

Since 2022, I’ve been combining my passion for writing with science communication. I’ve enjoyed collaborating with regional leadership to develop content for the Northwest/Pacific Island Region’s Science and Products Mapper.  I continue to support the ORWSC and other Centers in the region with website content creation, outreach, and media coordination.

In my current role, I manage a wide range of public-facing communications, including designing and maintaining science project web pages, curating multimedia content, facilitating media requests, and compiling newsletters. I co-led the development of the Klamath Integrated Water Availability Assessments program web page, which included designing a conceptual model using Adobe Illustrator—a skill I taught myself to better support our visual storytelling.

Locally I support the USGS-Portland State Partnership (UPP) Team with event planning and other needs. I also represent the USGS at outreach events like college career fairs, science conferences, and the Children’s Clean Water Festival.

I also support internal communications by compiling weekly highlights, coordinating internal memos, and helping ensure consistent messaging across centers. I’ve contributed to event planning for a regional summit, science seminars, and media trainings.