A few of my responsibilities include; updating state implementation plans, forecasting air quality, executing photochemical modeling tools, and monitoring air quality data for trends.

How did you end up in your profession and land a job at DEEP?
I’ve always loved nature and being outside, which led me to get a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in wetland management. The summer after I graduated, I worked for the Nantucket Land Bank doing an endangered plant research study, invasive species removal, and wildlife habitat restoration. I saw CT DEEP was hiring which sparked my interest in other environmental directions, specifically air quality. This position has allowed me to expand my knowledge on air pollution and the efforts the state goes through to make sure these standards are met.

What do you believe are the greatest benefits of working at DEEP?
The greatest benefits working for DEEP would be making a difference for all of the Connecticut residents. While we cannot control ozone levels, we can try our best to implement plans to keep air quality healthy.

What do you like most about your job?
I like that I’m always encouraged to learn new skills with support of the bureau. The free courses and trainings allow me to constantly gain more knowledge as I work here.

What have you gained by working at DEEP?
I’ve gained a new understanding of air quality health, as well as how to forecast for it. I’ve also gained new skills and knowledge with photochemical modeling, and analyzing data.

What have you learned about yourself, working through the COVID Pandemic?
Working through the pandemic, I’ve learned that it is possible to focus outside of an office setting. It has taught me that willpower is extremely important when working with distractions all around.

What/who helped you to get where you are?
First would be my parents by always encouraging me to follow through with whatever I had my mind set on. Next would be Leslie Duthie, horticulturist at Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, who taught me everything about native flora and wildlife. She brought out a love for plants I didn’t realize I had. Lastly, Dr. Michael Vorwerk from Westfield State University. His patience and knowledge of environmental science was extremely influential, which helped me excel in this field.

What have you learned at DEEP that you apply outside of DEEP?
I’ve learned that when air quality is bad, it can have physical effects on the body. I now take it easy on elevated ozone days when before I would have never known the possible effects.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I would love to be an archeologist who travels all over the world. History has always been fascinating to me, as well as historical monuments, and artifacts.

What is your favorite Ice cream?
My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip.

I help review Construction GP registrations, inspect sites, and work on enforcement cases with the Stormwater team.

How did you end up in your profession and land a job at DEEP?
In high school, my favorite math teacher told me that being a civil engineer would mean I would get to do math, science, and work with the public… which were/are all my favorite things! I got my bachelors in Civil Engineering, did the Disney College Program for half of a year, interviewed for a different job, got a job in Pretreatment, and now (2 years later) I am in the Stormwater group!

What do you believe are the greatest benefits of working at DEEP?
The work is always interesting, and you get to see almost every part of CT!

What do you like most about your job?
The coworkers!!!! The people I have meet here are among some of the kindest/best people I know!

What have you gained by working at DEEP?
I have gained a lot of the wildlife posters to decorate my cubicle and I have learned a lot about Connecticut’s statutes and regulations.

What have you learned about yourself, working through the COVID Pandemic?
I learned that I like being around friendly people and being in the office more than I like wearing pajamas to work (it was a surprising discovery).

What/who helped you to get where you are?
Michelle Gore and Nancy Wollenberg! They have been consistently supportive and helpful ever since I started working here, I think the world of them!

Tell us something about yourself that is not widely known.
I keep two little solar robots in my cubicle because one day I hope to be able to move into a cubicle by a sunny window!

What is your favorite movie?
My favorite is Secondhand Lions!

I work on a mix of programs within Remediation including Significant Environmental Hazards, Stewardship Permits, Quality Assurance/ Quality Control, but primarily, I work on Potable Water issues particularly road salt impacts.

How did you end up in your profession and land a job at DEEP?
My story is a bit of windy road because I didn’t originally plan on going into environmental science as a career, I had planned to be a writer, science classes were not my strongest suit, but once I took chemistry, I loved it. My high school chemistry teacher convinced me to take some chemistry courses in college “Just in case”. Within my first semester, I switched my major from creative writing to chemistry (best decision I have ever made). In my junior year, I took a course in environmental toxicology and studied pollutants and their impacts on the environment which is when my passion for cleaning up the environment really kicked in. After I graduated, I worked as a bench chemist in a private environmental lab where I extracted organic pollutants (PCBs, pesticides, herbicides, fuels, etc) from environmental samples for consulting agencies (waste cakes were the worst). Working on extractions day in and day out got old, fast, so I decided to go back to graduate school to study chemical oceanography in the hopes I could do more hands-on environmental work, especially because I like to know what I’m working on and why it’s important. I earned my master’s from UCONN’s Marine Science Department at Avery Point with a research focus on mercury cycling and bioaccumulation in blue mussels. Most of my time in grad school was spent in a trace-metal clean lab analyzing samples for trace concentrations of mercury. After I graduated, I worked as a research assistant with Drs. Robert Mason and Jamie Vaudrey focusing on mercury analysis with Rob and LIS eutrophication studies with Jamie until I got a job with the DPH Environmental Laboratory in Rocky Hill. While working at the DPH lab, I got the itch again to know why the samples we were receiving were important and what they were for. I realized I wouldn’t get those answers in a lab, I wanted to be the analyst on the other side. I wanted to “be the change I wanted to see in the world” so I started applying to jobs and was eventually offered a position with the Remediation Division which is exactly where I wanted to be.

What do you believe are the greatest benefits of working at DEEP?
The genuine connections I have made with colleagues within and outside of the Department and the ability to share information with those connections. I feel that the amount of information folks want to share/teach to others is refreshing and exciting.

What do you like most about your job?
I like how much there is to learn! I never feel bored because there is always something more to learn and problem solve.

What have you gained by working at DEEP?
A profound appreciation for the amount of work it takes to make change.

What/who helped you to get where you are?
My parents. They always supported my drive to follow my passions (even when my original career goal was to be a writer). Although neither of them had a college-degree they selflessly helped me get through college which has made all the difference.

What have you learned at DEEP that you apply outside of DEEP?
I have learned more about private wells than I ever thought I would want to know and, being a private well owner myself, have been working on improving my own well with the knowledge I’ve gained. I’ve also gained a lot of time management skills that I’m getting better at using at home.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I think being a large animal vet would be interesting. I own three horses and they are, essentially, never-ending science experiments so it doesn’t feel like it would be a huge leap.

Tell us about your favorite hobby or volunteer work that you do.
Other than riding my horse, one of my favorite hobbies, that I also do volunteer work for, is historical fencing (think 3 Musketeers, or Princess Bride). It’s a very physically and mentally challenging sport and it’s a great way to let off some steam.

What is your favorite movie?
Fifth Element, I would argue it’s one of the best sci-fi movies.

What accomplishment (work or outside or work) are you most proud of and why?
I am very proud of earning my master’s degree. I grew up in a town with a small school budget (my science classes couldn’t afford lab materials) and I had very few positive experiences with science classes and yet, somehow, I made it all the way through grad school and get work in a field I fell in love with.

What is your favorite Ice cream?
Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food; it’s my kryptonite.