Unesc professor Zeca Virtuoso was unanimously elected president of the Urussanga River Watershed Management Committee for the 2026-2028 term. The election took place through a single slate, in a secret ballot held on the afternoon of Tuesday (November 3), on the University campus.

The assembly included 19 representatives from the entities that make up the three segments of the committee: Watershed Population, Water Users, and Federal and State Administration Bodies. The elected slate includes environmental engineers Silvia Sartor Roseng, elected vice-president, and Camila Colossi Felippe, who will assume the Executive Secretariat. Both are graduates of Unesc, reinforcing the Institution's presence in leading the committee's work. 

Virtuoso succeeds environmental engineer Lara Possamai Wesller, representative of the Santa Catarina Environmental Institute (IMA), who is also an alumna of the University. With this election, the professor returns to the presidency of the committee ten years after serving two terms in the role.

Commitment to Water Governance

The new management represents another chapter in Unesc's participation in the management of water resources in the region. The University was involved in the founding process of the Urussanga River Committee two decades ago and, between 2023 and 2024, acted as the executive entity for the watershed committees in southern Santa Catarina, including that of the Urussanga River.

For Virtuoso, returning to the presidency reaffirms the University's institutional commitment to sustainable regional development, social participation, and strengthening water governance.

"It is with immense joy and readiness that we return to the presidency of the committee as representatives of Unesc. Contributing to the strengthening of water governance is one of our Institution's objectives, reinforcing its community role. We have significant challenges ahead, especially in advancing the implementation of the instruments outlined in the National Water Resources Policy. This process begins with mobilizing society, represented by the three segments of the committee, to ensure qualified and effective participation in decisions regarding water management," emphasizes the professor.

The new president also highlights the satisfaction of sharing management with two professionals whose academic training he witnessed at the University. "It is equally gratifying to work for the committee alongside two excellent professionals, whom we had the opportunity to support during their academic training in the course on Culture, Society, and Environment. This partnership also demonstrates Unesc's contribution to training professionals committed to the socio-environmental challenges of our region," he adds.

Virtuoso, who is also a Geography teacher at Coronel Marcos Rovaris Basic Education School, thanked the support and partnership of the school unit for its role and his election to the presidency of the Committee.