Undergraduate Environmental Science Program

Rensselaer



GRADUATES MAKING A DIFFERENCE!




Blanchard, Margaret E.

Geology concentration and dual major in geology.
Interned, then worked for Green Seal, a Washington D.C. non-profit group, as Editor of their monthly "Choose Green Report". Now, is Associate Technical Writer for DynCorp, Reston, VA, working on the development, design and production of various USEPA laboratory guidance documents related to Superfund field sample handling and testing.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Meb says: "I have met many people who have graduated from other colleges with Environmental Science or Environmental Studies degrees. Talking to them I find that I have been able to develop many more skills whether they are writing, presentation, laboratory or field skills. I feel lucky to have attended a technical university that allowed me to develop such diverse skills."
blancm@early.com


Carlsen, Erika L.

Biology concentration.
Worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the Environmental Restoration Division, as Field Engineer with oversight for remediation and as Coordinator of Hazardous and Radioactive Waste Management.
Presently a Master's candidate in Resource Administration and Management at University of New Hampshire, Durham.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program Erika says: "Provided a broad understanding of environmental issues, very flexible, program professors were knowledgeable and helpful."
erikacarlsen@aol.com


Carney, Christopher N.

Geology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - hiked and camped out west.
Employed as Project Assistant at Merrimack River Watershed Council in Lawrence, MA, where he recruits and organizes independent groups of volunteers to survey and work on behalf of their sub-watersheds. Also assists in a wide range of watershed protection and water quality monitoring projects.
Co-founded the Urban Earth Festival, held annually in September in Riverfront Park, Troy, NY, which features environmental street theater and Capital District environmental not-for-profits, local artists, crafts and music.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Chris says: "I had a very positive experience that continues to be a source of energy for the projects I work on. [It is a] very thorough program. I feel well prepared for my work and much of my motivation stems from my experience in the program. I received a very well-rounded grounding in a range of disciplines."
ccarney@merrimack.org


Chase, Roberta E.

Biology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a month of door to door raising money for the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan and camping for a month in Jefferson National Forest.
Worked in various positions for the New York Public Interest Research Group and for Citizens' Environmental Coalition.
Presently is a Master's candidate in Rensselaer's Ecological Economics, Values and Policy Program.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Bobbi says: "It had the flexibility to allow me to get a scientific background and then orient myself towards activism/social science as that became my focus."
shelaria@juno.com


Dodd, Emily B.

Geology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - summer program in Australia.
Summer intern at Argonne National Laboratory.
Worked as Greening Coordinator on the Rensselaer campus.
Now, is a Program Assistant working for the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Emily's new project there is the voluntary Agricultural Environmental Management program which provides farmers with planning, technical and financial assistance for developing environmental management plans for their farms and for implementing practices that prevent or abate nonpoint source pollution.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Emily says: "When I first graduated, Rensselaer's Environmental Science program seemed a bit inadequate when I met people who'd had specific classes in soil science, wildlife, etc. Now I find that the reasoning, research, writing and computer skills I gained at Rensselaer, paired with the basic science, are serving me well. I find my Rensselaer education surprisingly helpful outside of work, where I can discuss environmental issues clearly."
emily@alum.rpi.edu


Duffy, Micaela E.

Geology concentration, minor in Environmental Engineering.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a month camping trip in Alaska.
Summer coop with Champion International Corp as an environmental engineer.
Earned an MS in Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado - Boulder. Presently employed there as Professional Research Associate, heading up a project funded by EPA in collaboration with the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, studying Indoor Air Quality and its affects on childhood asthma.
duffyme@colorado.edu


Ferris, Shannon M.

Biology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - volunteer at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, working on a booklet about mercury.
After graduating, began working at General Electric in their Chemical Services Department. For the last year Shannon has been working as a Process Engineer for International Paper, Printing and Communications Paper Division in Ticonderoga, NY, where she provides technical support to the various manufacturing departments.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Shannon says: "The flexibility and diversity of this program provided me with not only a strong technical background, but the ability to ask questions."
Shannon.Ferris@ipaper.com


Flight, Maura

Biology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - summer in Australia studying and researching tropical marine ecosystem preservation.
At present, is a graduate student in Ecological Economics Program at Rensselaer, researching endangered species management at Duxbury Beach, Massachussetts.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Maura says: "I enjoyed the interdisciplinary nature of the program. Many programs advertise as being interdisciplinary but few actually have the kind of openness in scheduling and choosing courses that the ENVS program does. I also like the interactive curriculum of many of the courses in the department as opposed to the lecture/lab style prominent in many courses at RPI. The fact that it was a smaller group of students than many majors also appealed to me. I got to know the other students in the program and work with them on a more personal level than I think is common as an undergraduate. It would have been interesting to see what students from other schools with similar qualifications, and what former students of our program, were doing after graduating and how they got there."
flighm@rpi.edu


Green, Benjamin

Mathematics concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a month walking on the Appalachian Trail.
Commissioned in the United States Navy, working in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ben aims to direct his attention towards the field of environmental management.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Ben says: "One of the better programs I have seen, preparing students for both work in the professional arena, as well as continued education. The requirements gave us both a technical background and one founded on an appreciation for researching the co-dependence of humans and their environment."
beben@alum.rpi.edu


Gross, Eric J.

Geology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - Sea Semester.
After working as a Groundwater Hydrologist in Long Island, NY, he is presently a graduate student of Water Resources Engineering, in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Maryland University of Maryland; studying the effects of urbanization on water characteristics, design of water retention structures and GIS analysis of watersheds.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Eric says: "Upon graduating I was quite displeased with the position I was in when trying to find a job. It seems that every school now has an Environmental Science program and it seemed that RPI didn't really stand out. I think it may be an inherent problem with most undergraduate degrees, but I feel I was not prepared to go into the workforce. Upon obtaining a job I found that I picked things up much faster than others in the company did and my interdisciplinary background made it possible for me to tackle a wide variety of jobs. The more I interacted with other scientists the happier I was about my RPI education. I do like the fact that the program incorporates as many fields of science as it does. Now, as a graduate student in engineering, I feel that I have a more rounded view of the course material than if I had taken an undergraduate engineering program."
grosse@wam.umd.edu


Groth, Tracey L.

Geology concentration, minor in Management.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a summer internship at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Wetlands Division in Worcester, MA.
Currently employed at Triumvirate Environmental in Somerville, Massachusetts. Spent one year as a field chemist doing hazardous waste management. Has now moved into the Marketing and Communications department where she is doing a great deal of event coordination, designing, editing, writing articles and content for newsletters, updating the website, assisting with trade shows, managing contact information and so forth. Meanwhile, Tracey is studying for her MBA.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Tracey says: "I feel that it was too generalized and too focused on ideas instead of science or engineering fundamentals. There should be concentrations more related to job tracks, not just specific sciences, so that people leave the program with an obvious skill set."
tgroth@triumvirate.com


Johnson, Brian C.

Biology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - two week hike on the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Works as an Environmental Scientist 1 at the Office of the Attorney General of New York State. While there has graduated with a master's degree in Geochemistry and another in Environmental Management and Policy, both from RPI. At the OAG, he assists and advises attorneys on technical issues of environmental concern, develops new cases and initiatives, performs site inspections to monitor for compliance with court orders, and appears as an expert witness, as well as hires and manages others, in judicial proceedings.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Brian says: "The diverse program prepared me well for both graduate school as well as the multi-disciplinary nature of my work."
Brian.Johnson@oag.state.ny.us


Knope, Travis

Biology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a month on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.
Currently, with the Peace Corps in Morocco, close to the Algerian border on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Travis is working in the very small hospital of a Berber village with almost no electricity or running water, near the town of Zagora and where the lingua franca is Tashelheet.
travis-knope@yahoo.com


Kupalo, Anita

Geology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - two week course in Bahamas.


Lee, Steven T.

Physics concentration.
Spent Junior year in England.
Intensive Environmental Experience - volunteer in a Massachusetts State Park.
Is a graduate student in Rensselaer's Environmental Management and Policy Program.
Presently doing an internship at Bristol, Myers, Squibb in Syracuse, New York.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Steven says: "The diverse nature of the Program is its strength, if the student knows what he/she wants to focus on. However, if the student does not know exactly what he/she wants to do, I think that the Program helps to prepare the student well."
lees5@rpi.edu


Lucier, Eileen F.

Geology concentration.
Works in Mahwah, New Jersey, as a scientist in the Environmental Science Department of HydroQual, with responsibilities for technical writing, environmental impact studies and other environmental reports.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Eileen says: "The Environmental Science Program at RPI was wonderful. It provided a great deal of flexibility while also lending enough guidance to help the student shape their degree into what they wanted it to be."
elucier@hydroqual.com


Maloney, Kerry A.

Geology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a month camping in the Adirondacks.


Peret, Rochelle Boutin

Geology concentration with a minor in Environmental Engineering.
Intensive Environmental Experience - summer coop at Narragansett Electric Company.
Has been employed as Environmental Restoration Assistant for the United States Army, Environmental Safety and Health Office, Natick, Massachusetts; on Superfund restoration, coordinating public meetings, editing cleanup newsletter and managing the Army's aspects of a government-wide restoration database. Recently moved to Groundwater and Environmental Services, Inc. in Westford, MA, where she is a junior environmental scientist. A lot of Rochelle's work is with service stations and involves soil, groundwater and surface water samples, as well as drill jobs, tank excavations, and soil excavations. Doing what she likes and what she went to school for: getting dirty!
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Rochelle says: "I wish it had been more intensive, more opportunities for Field Methods. I liked the hands-on work."
rperet@email.com


Ragnauth, Shaun

Chemistry concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - Assawoman Bay in Delaware.
After graduating in May 2000, worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, NJ, in the Bureau of Air Quality Evaluation, developing a New Jersey specific Air Toxic Release Inventory.
In August started with the environmental consulting firm, Marasco-Newton Group in Arlington, VA, in the Applied Sciences and Engineering Division. Consults for the US EPA on a number of different environmental issues, including Superfund, air issues and water quality. Some of these are: developing new Environmental Indicators and GPRA Measures for the Superfund Program, Asbestos Sampling, Analysis, and Risk Assessment for the asbestos contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, and Technical Guidance Development and Peer Review for the GE Pittsfield, Massachussetts, Superfund site. Seniors seeking work in the environmental consulting field in the Washington DC area might mail him.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Shaun says: "Environmental Science at RPI opened the doors to many different issues and subjects due to the multidisciplinary nature of the program."
ragnas@alum.rpi.edu


Vormohr, Stacy Barna,

Biology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - observing the ponds in Frear Park, Troy, and a lake in the Adirondacks during March and April on the weekends.
Has worked for Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Columbus, Ohio, since April 1997 in the Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Enforcement Unit as an Environmental Specialist II. Her job duties include: evaluation of monitoring data to determine compliance of public water systems with state and federal drinking water regulations: responsible for state enforcement cases and coordinating the enforcement process between central office, district offices, Ohio EPA Legal Section and Ohio Attorney General's Office: drafts administrative actions and participates in settlement negotiations: participates in the development of Ohio Administrative Code rules and regulations to protect public health and to ensure that primary requirements are met.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Stacy says: "Brian Johnson and I were the only graduates of the Environmental Science Program in May 1995 when the program was still truly in its infancy. I have followed the changes that Professor McDaniel has made to the program, via the web page. Some of the recent changes in course requirements should enhance the program further. I feel that the Program prepared me for the multitude of challenges I have faced employed for Ohio EPA. There are so many facets of environmental science that a broad base of knowledge is crucial to be successful. Though my specialty is drinking water, I often work with many other divisions within our agency. My educational background from RPI has helped facilitate these experiences."
sbarna.ddagw.central-office@epa.state.oh.us


Wagar, Jennifer E.

Chemistry concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - School for Field Studies summer program on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Is a graduate student in Geology at Rensselaer working on Organic Environmental Geochemistry with a thesis about dioxins and furans in Lake Ontario.
Doing an internship at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Works part time as Environmental Compliance Assistant at Mohawk Paper Mills, Cohoes, NY, developing and maintaining databases necessary to comply with OSHA, USEPA and NYSDEC regulations.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Jennifer says: "This major has the flexibility to be able to customize your eductaion to fit your interests and career goals."
wagarj@rpi.edu


Wassel, Ronald A.

Chemistry concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - hydro-geology project at a Canajoharie site with Rensselaer faculty.
After leaving Rensselaer, Drew went to Roger Williams University where he received a second degree in Biology, working summers as a staff chemist for EPA. He then worked as staff scientist for Covalent Associates, Woburn, MA, where he made and tested prismatic capacitors, as well as synthesizing non-aqueous ionic liquids.
At present, Drew is in the Chemistry PhD program at North Carolina State, studing nano-structures.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Drew says: "I think it is a great program."
rawassel@unity.ncsu.edu


Wigton, Andrew T.

Physics concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - a month in an isolated cabin in the Adirondacks.
Spent 2 years working for an environmental consulting firm in Boston. Returned to school at Rensselaer and is now in the 4th year of the PhD program in Environmental Engineering, as Research Assistant studying drinking water quality and treatment.
wigtoa2@rpi.edu


Woelfle, Bradford W.

Geology concentration.
Intensive Environmental Experience - hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Since graduating, has worked for Defenders of Wildlife and as a framer. In September 1999, co-organized the Urban Earth Fest, with several other RPI grads - a festival of organizations, vendors, music and storytelling with an environmental focus. Presently employed by The Rebuilding Center, which is part of Our United Villages, in Portland, Oregon, dis-assembling homes by hand, so that the building materials can be re-used rather than landfilled. Also volunteers on an organic farm.
Of Rensselaer's Undergraduate Environmental Science Program, Brad says: "Our global environmental situation is a complex one and to fully understand it a broad spectrum of disciplines must be taken into account. The Environmental Science Program at Rensselaer not only provides a strong base of understanding through the pure sciences but also allows each student many free electives to pursue other fields of study, such as environmental economics and environmental politics and policy. Another aspect of the program I liked was its small size and Carl McDaniel's willingness to help, and work out anything you brought to him."
b_woelfle@hotmail.com





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Environmental Science,
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Phone: 518 276 6036



Last modified: 09/09/02.
URL: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/envsci/