Stewardship Advisory Council
The Meadows Center Stewardship Council members act as ambassadors for The Meadows Center, offering guidance for our initiatives, supporting strategies, and promoting visibility within our communities.
Filter Panel
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Carlos RubinsteinPrincipal, RSAH2O, LLC
Carlos is the Principal member of RSAH2O, LLC – an environmental consulting firm with a strong emphasis on water issues. Rubinstein has served as an expert witness on various environmental cases and has published several peer-reviewed articles on Texas water policy matters.
Carlos served as a commissioner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) from 2009 to 2013. He has also served as deputy executive director of TCEQ and as Rio Grande Watermaster. Carlos is a former city manager for the City of Brownsville.
He received a bachelor's degree in biology from Pan American University.
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Emily Warren Armitano, Ph.D.Director, Land Conservation and Water Programs
Emily Warren Armitano directs the land conservation and water programs for the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation in Austin. She is responsible for leading the design of the land conservation and water program strategies and managing a grants portfolio to achieve the foundation’s sustainability goals.
Previously, she held leadership positions at the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where her focus was on sustainable natural resources management. In addition, Emily worked as part of the global management team for a United Nations Development Program aimed at reducing the volume and toxicity of healthcare waste in eight low-income countries across the globe.
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Ruben BecerraJudge, Hays County
Judge Ruben Becerra is leading Hays County in water stewardship by championing the One Water approach across all county projects and incentivized developments. He is also urging TxDOT and all municipalities to adopt xeriscaping—using crushed granite, native cactus, and other near-zero-water plants—to promote a sharp, low-maintenance aesthetic that conserves resources and enhances regional sustainability.
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Suzanne ScottFormer State Director, Nature Conservancy
Suzanne Scott joined the Nature Conservancy in Texas as the State Director in November 2020 after a 20-year career with the San Antonio River Authority, serving as its General Manager for 13 years. Scott advances conservation actions and public policy to protect the state’s cherished landscapes, rivers, aquifers, and coasts that support positive economy, public health, and equity outcomes. Through collaboration with government, landowners, and organizations throughout the state, she works to promote the value and function of nature in building the state's resilience to ensure that people and nature can thrive together in cities and rural communities.
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Sarah Rountree SchlessingerCEO, Texas Water Foundation
Sarah is the CEO of Texas Water Foundation, a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit that works in water policy, workforce and leadership initiatives, and is building a statewide water campaign called Texas Runs on Water. She previously worked in groundwater policy and regulation and has experience with international nonprofits and disaster response. Sarah currently serves as an appointed member of the Water Conservation Advisory Council and as a board member for Open ET.
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Vanessa Puig-WilliamsSenior Director for Climate Resilient Water Systems at Environmental Defense Fund
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Maria RochaSecretary Board of Elders for the Indigenous Cultures Institute
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Mario Garza, Ph.D.Principal Founder - Indigenous Cultures Institute
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Andy Sansom, Ph.D.Founder & Professor of Practice, Department of Geography
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Lizette Villarreal-MontesSenior Program Officer, The Meadows Foundation
Lizette Villarreal-Montes is the Interim Director of the Grants Department and a Senior Program Officer at The Meadows Foundation, where she leads the education and environment portfolios. She has been with the Foundation since 2021 and also serves as a co-chair of the North Texas Asset Funders Network and as a member of the resource development committee for Philanthropy Southwest.
Previously, Lizette worked as the annual fund manager at Casa Mañana, the oldest performing arts theatre in Fort Worth. Her earlier experience includes roles in corporate affairs for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, development at BEST Kids, and federal affairs for Salt River Project, the third-largest provider of water and electricity in the United States.
Lizette holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from Southwestern University. She enjoys being a resource to nonprofits and partnering on innovative solutions that benefit all Texans.