Dr. Caily Schwartz is a human-environmental analyst for GWSC. Dr. Schwartz is an Earth scientist whose past research has focused on drought information, from both the physical and social perspective. She is passionate about filling the gap between social and physical science to better assist decision-makers. Her understanding of the physical manifestations of drought and how drought is monitored helped to drive research that integrated qualitative data in the context of flash drought and drought impact assessment for specialty crops. Schwartz has worked with government agencies, international organizations, and farmers to answer questions that support drought decision making throughout her career, and she has held graduate research positions at the National Drought Mitigation Center and SERVIR. In her free time, Schwartz enjoys hiking, reading, running, walking her dog, and hanging out with friends.

Schwartz received her PhD in Natural Resource Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned a Masters of Science in Earth Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Auburn University.