Rate My Professor Connie Woodhouse

Connie Woodhouse is Regents' Professor Emerita in the School of Geography, Development & Environment at the University of Arizona, holding joint appointments in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and the Department of Geosciences. She earned a Ph.D. in Geosciences from the University of Arizona in 1996, an M.S. in Geography from the University of Utah in 1989, and a B.A. from Prescott College in 1979. Her career trajectory includes roles as Physical Scientist at NOAA National Climatic Data Center in Boulder, Colorado (2000-2006), Research Scientist positions at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado (1997-2006), and progressive faculty appointments at the University of Arizona starting as Associate Professor in 2007, advancing to Professor in 2013, Interim Director of the School of Geography and Development (2014-2015), Regents Professor (2020-2023), and Emerita since 2023. Woodhouse has pioneered dendroclimatology to reconstruct hydroclimatic variability, focusing on droughts, streamflow, and temperature in western North American watersheds such as the upper Colorado, Rio Grande, and Missouri Rivers. Her research integrates paleoclimate data with contemporary climate controls to inform water resource management amid changing demands and climate change.

Key publications include 'Temperature as a potent driver of regional forest drought stress and tree mortality' (Williams et al., 2013, Nature Climate Change), 'Long-term aridity changes in the western United States' (Cook et al., 2004, Science), '2000 years of drought variability in the central United States' (Woodhouse and Overpeck, 1998, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society), 'Tree rings reveal unmatched 2nd century drought in the Colorado River Basin' (Gangopadhyay et al., 2022, Geophysical Research Letters), and 'Upper Colorado River Basin 20th century droughts under 21st century warming: Plausible scenarios for the future' (Woodhouse et al., 2021, Climate Services). With nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles and over $18 million in grants from NSF, NOAA, and others, her work has reshaped global understanding of megadroughts and river flow variability, enhancing planning for water scarcity. Honors include American Geophysical Union Fellow (2022), Climate Specialty Group Lifetime Achievement Award (2026), José A. Boninsegna Frontiers in Dendrochronology Award (2016), and NOAA Administrator’s Award (2006). She served as Associate Editor for Dendrochronologia (2002-2020) and on National Academy of Sciences committees for Colorado River water management and hydrologic sciences.