Dr. Zack Leasor is an assistant professor in climate science at the University of Missouri, where he serves as the Missouri State Climatologist and Director of the Missouri Climate Center. Zack received a MA and PhD in geography from The Ohio State University after receiving a BS in meteorology from Western Kentucky University. He also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State, where he was funded by the National Science Foundation. Zack’s research focuses on using hydroclimate data to improve climate monitoring and prediction. He has published journal articles related to drought monitoring, soil moisture monitoring, and unseasonal-to-seasonal weather prediction. In addition to his research, Zack frequently engages in science communication and outreach.