What I Do Coordinate the implementation, metrics, outreach, and education for the City of Alexandria VA focused on our sustainability road map, the 2019 Environmental Action Plan 2040.
My Day At Work Collaborate across City departments for the implementation, monitoring, and outreach to facilitate implementation of the City's 2019 Environmental Action Plan 2040 (EAP 2040). My days include meetings with colleagues and decisions on implementation of sustainable actions in the EAP 2040. I get into the details of our greenhouse gas inventory and am launching an Eco-City Academy for residents of the community.
Proud Moments Getting my professional engineering license in 2009. 2009 was 31 years after I had graduated as a mechanical engineer. I was studying with a group of civil engineers from work so I got my PE in civil engineering. The PE allowed me to get a promotion in 2010. That lead to my transition to my dream job in sustainability.
Challenges Getting job experience in the field was a challenge because I was the first engineer in my family. I signed up for the Junior Fellowship program with the federal government in 1974. My work was in the office of construction for the Veterans Administration for 3 summers and holidays and my last year with the National Bureau of Standards in appliance labeling standards.
My Family My mother was a coal-miners daughter and was only able to afford college for one semester. She inspired me to achieve more. She and my father were supportive of my becoming an engineer. My four siblings all got college degrees. My husband and I have three grown women who all have different careers (architect, a nanny, in graduate school getting a master's degree in creative writing)
Dreams and Goals My short-term goals are to successfully implement many actions in the City's Environmental Action Plan. As I get close to retirement, my long-term goal is to upgrade my existing home to have a low-carbon footprint and add edible landscaping.
Inspiration My 11 grade math teacher who suggested I look up engineering as a profession and sent me to the guidance office to see what they had. I looked at the 5 options and picked mechanical as the most useful. At age 16, I decided to become an engineer and never regretted it.
Want to be an Engineer? Take math and science courses that are free in high school so you are better prepared for college. Take summer jobs that will support that plan. I worked at NASA the summer before my senior year and continued that work part-time during my senior year at Goddard Space Flight Center.
Hobbies I love to garden, read books, and ballroom dance. My husband is not a fan of ballroom dancing so I did that more when I was young and single.