Renee Aragon Dolese is Director of Marketing and Communications at The Water Institute, where she leads strategic efforts to elevate the organization’s visibility and impact. She works across teams and partners to translate complex science and applied research into clear, compelling narratives that inform decision making, strengthen partnerships, and connect the Institute’s work to the communities it serves. Through strategic campaigns, multi-media storytelling, and stakeholder engagement, Renee helps position the Institute as a trusted, collaborative leader advancing solutions to interconnected environmental and social challenges.

Renee joined the Institute in 2024, bringing more than two decades of experience in journalism and strategic communications. She previously served at the Port of New Orleans, where she built and led an award-winning communications program that strengthened the Port’s reputation and expanded engagement across industry, government, and community stakeholders.

Originally from Colorado and a graduate of Colorado State University, Renee moved to New Orleans in 2005 with her husband, a New Orleans native, just ahead of Hurricane Katrina. As a journalist and editor, she covered major events including multiple hurricanes and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill—experiences that continue to inform her commitment to advancing resilience, sustainability, and equitable outcomes in coastal communities.