DEQ Water Quality Division Celebrates National Intern Day
08-18-2025
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) – Water Quality Division (WQD) is celebrating the 2025 National Intern Day by highlighting the amazing interns we have working here this summer. DEQ has six interns working across various WQD Programs for the Summer 2025 Season.
The WQD programs that have interns this year include the Groundwater Section’s Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Program, the Data Quality Assurance Program, the Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCB) Program, the Surface Water Monitoring Program, and the Water Quality Laboratory.
- Shayla Babits (Ground Water)
- Hope Langseth (Ground Water)
- Lauren Vaninger (Quality Assurance/Quality Control)
- Carter Ruegg (HCB)
- Ryan Peoples (Surface Water Monitoring)
- Katheryn Mellinger (Water Quality Lab)
DEQ interns provide an invaluable resource to the agency by providing technical support, data analysis, and field sampling assistance to support the above-mentioned programs.
In return, the DEQ interns are provided with hands-on experience working for a state environmental agency and gain practical knowledge that can be applied to their future coursework and to strengthen their resumes so that they are ready to hit the ground running for their job searches upon graduation.
DEQ has a proven track record of hiring previous interns into full-time positions. Some previous interns who now work full-time for DEQ include:
- Rachel Eyers, Watershed Program’s Natural Resource Analyst
- Jules Feck, Voluntary Remediation Program Senior Project Manager
- Mackenzie Hairfield, Watershed Program’s Natural Resource Analyst
- Joanna Harter, Watershed Protection Water Quality Assessment Coordinator
- Katherine McCrea, WYPDES Inspection and Compliance Program Supervisor
- Chenwu (Johnny) Xaio, Voluntary Remediation Program’s Natural Resource Analyst,
- Mike Wachtendonk, Watershed Protection Monitoring Analyst
Their previous DEQ internship experiences were highly valued on their job applications, and no doubt, helped contribute to their success in their current positions.
For instance, Hairfield previously interned for the Groundwater Section’s Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Program, Eyers previously worked as an HCB intern for two consecutive years, and Xaio previously served as the Water Quality Lab’s intern.
Xaio also was awarded the Solid and Hazardous Waste Division’s Employee of the Year for 2024.
Even DEQ’s own Water Quality Administrator, Jennifer Zygmunt, got her start as an intern for the Land Quality Division before being hired into the WQD, proving that the sky is the limit for opportunity when taking a DEQ internship position.
DEQ’s 2025 summer interns are individually highlighted below to honor their contributions to the agency, and to acknowledge the diversity of experiences and backgrounds that these talented individuals bring to the DEQ.
Current university students who are interested in DEQ internships should look for internship opportunities at https://deq.wyoming.gov/careers/.
Hiring Managers should also keep this list handy and keep an eye out for these names on incoming applications in the next few years. They will be highly sought-after candidates!