Sue Wagner established two awards at DRI in memory of her late husband, DRI Atmospheric Scientist Peter Wagner
Sue Wagner and her late husband moved to Reno in 1968 so that he could take a position as an atmospheric scientist at DRI. She remained an integral part of our state ever since.
Born in Portland, Maine, as Sue Ellen Pooler, she moved to Tucson, Arizona around the age of 10. She completed her undergraduate studies in political science at the University of Arizona in 1962, where she met her husband, Peter Wagner, during her senior year. She later earned a master’s degree in history from Northwestern University and began a Ph.D. in political science at Ohio State University before leaving to start her family with Peter, deciding that “one Ph.D. in the family was enough.” She and Peter had two children together.
With a life-long interest in political science, Sue quickly rose through the ranks of Nevada state politics. She was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 1974, and then to the state Senate in 1980. That same year, a plane crash brought tragedy to the Wagner family and the DRI community, killing Peter Wagner along with three other DRI scientists during a research flight. The following year, Sue established the Peter Wagner Memorial Endowment to provide promising graduate students in DRI’s Atmospheric Sciences program with a cash award to further their professional careers. She later extended the opportunity to women across the country through the creation in 1998 of the Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences. Currently, 27 recipients have received this award – the only one of its kind in the United States. Another annual internal award, the Peter B. Wagner Medal of Excellence, recognizes outstanding scientific accomplishments of DRI faculty in the early stages of their careers.
Alongside her achievements crafting state legislation, Sue built the foundation for state support for DRI. She joined the staff of DRI in 1981 and served as Special Assistant for Government and Legislative Affairs for nine years, and ending when she was elected Lieutenant Governor. One of her major achievements at DRI was the shepherding of special legislation through the U.S. Congress to establish the DRI Dandini Research Park. Sue remained active in local and state politics and continued to play a role in supporting promising scientists from DRI and beyond.
“DRI is grateful for Sue’s service and vision to DRI and her decades long support of the Wagner Endowment – which forever honors Peter’s legacy,” said DRI President Dr. Kumud Acharya. “DRI was one of the first to benefit from her vision and determination to develop Nevada’s resources to their greatest potential. The Wagner family has been part of DRI since 1968 when Peter became a young scientist at DRI and continues today. We are thinking of the Wagner family during this difficult time.”
Dr. Vera Samburova, chair of the Wagner Award, added, “I had the privilege of working with Ms. Wagner on the Peter B. Wagner Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences for more than 15 years. Established as a national award in 1998, it has since recognized 27 outstanding graduate women in atmospheric sciences from across the United States. Mrs. Wagner was deeply proud of this program and held profound respect for women scientists.
“She was not only a generous benefactor, but also a dedicated mentor and advocate. When award recipients visited DRI in Reno, she warmly welcomed them into her home, creating space for conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing women in science, as well as their careers. Ms. Wagner’s commitment extended far beyond Nevada; she was a great supporter for women in science nationwide. Her guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support have left a lasting legacy. She will be deeply missed.”
Despite the loss of her husband, Sue persevered, continuing on her path to the highest ranks of Nevada state government. In 1989, she became Nevada’s first woman to be elected Lieutenant Governor. She was instrumental to creating the Nevada Commission on Ethics, and supported women’s rights, environmental protection, public health, and education throughout her tenure in the government. Sue was inducted in the Nevada State Senate Hall of Fame in 2013 and awarded the Professional Achievement Award by the University of Arizona Alumni Association in 2009.
If you would like to make a gift to honor Sue Wagner’s legacy at DRI, please support the Peter B. Wagner Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences: Donate to Peter B. Wagner Memorial Endowment.
To honor Sue, her dedication to DRI, and the 25th anniversary of the Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award, DRI sat down with Sue in 2023 for an interview about her life. The interview below was edited for length and clarity.
DRI: You’ve led a fascinating life. What inspired you to get involved in politics?
Sue: My dad was very involved in Republican politics in Maine. And I remember listening to political conventions where they were choosing the President or the Vice President. I just thought it was normal. Then, when I got to high school, I ran for everything – and won. At the University of Arizona, it was the same.
DRI: Tell us about your husband, Peter. What was he like, what were his passions, and how did he come to work at DRI?
Sue: When Peter graduated with his Ph.D., there weren’t many jobs available. He could have gone to work for the University of Alaska, where he was born, but I didn’t want to move to Alaska. Neither of us had ever been to Reno when he took the job at DRI. I remember meeting someone on the plane who used the term “gaming,” and I had no idea what that meant. We lived out in Stead at first, and there was nothing between Stead and Reno at the time. When we moved to town, we found this home in southwest Reno, where I still live. When we moved here, Moana was still a dirt road, and cattle ranches were everywhere.
Peter was skilled at so many things outside of his job. He was passionate about his work, but he was passionate about a lot of other things, too. We used to waterski on Lake Mead back when it had a lot of water. He loved woodworking, and he could take the car apart and put it together again. He’d come home from work and go downstairs and work in his office, making things out of wood. When we first married, the only thing he brought with him was a radial arm saw. It’s still downstairs, because it’s too heavy to get out!
DRI: The award has recognized and fostered some of the field’s top scientists. As one example, 2015 winner Laura Kreidberg is the founding director of the Department of Atmospheric Physics of Exoplanets at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelburg, Germany. What does it mean to you to have supported the careers of so many pioneering women scientists?
Sue: I feel very proud that I’ve spent my life trying to promote other women. I just had a party on September 8th called “Girls’ Night Out” and I had 72 women in my backyard. I started having these events about 20 years ago, when they started as a small gathering in my kitchen. Many of the women are involved, in different ways, with politics on some level.
DRI: What advice do you have for women in science?
Sue: The door is wide open for women in science. I think they have to feel that way and apply to whatever they think is important. I get so many letters from women who won the Wagner Award about how it’s changed their life, because they were recognized by someone. I saved all the letters, some of which say that if it hadn’t been for the award, they might not have continued in science. I have to give a lot of credit to Vera Samburova, Ph.D. – she has done a great job as Chair of the award committee.
To learn more about the legacy of Sue Wagner:
OPINION: ‘Sue was a warrior, through and through’ – The Nevada Independent
Sue Wagner, first woman elected lieutenant governor of Nevada, dies at 86 – The Nevada Independent,
