Time and again, one of the things we hear from alumni of the USF Master of Science in Environmental Management program is how much they value the community and the role it plays in building their professional network. This excitement was palpable at February’s CUPA conference – the 26th annual training event, which brings together leaders working in the environmental health and safety field. CUPA – a Certified Unified Program Agency – is a local agency certified by CalEPA to implement and enforce six state hazardous waste and hazardous materials regulatory management programs.
This year, MSEM had a table at the conference, which served as a hub for between-session conversations building on the event theme of “People, Purpose & Passion: Our Pathway to Success!” We were thrilled to connect with individuals and organizations focused on hazard prevention, regulatory compliance, and contaminant remediation and especially enjoyed reconnecting with several MSEM alums leading these efforts.
Where are they now?
A few members of the MSEM community who shared insight into the work they’re doing:
- Nicole Reese (MSEM ‘14), a principal consultant focused on impact assessment at Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the largest global sustainability consultancy.
- Jonathan Hung (MSEM ‘12), works for Moxion Power, which is pioneering mobile energy storage, as senior director of environmental health and safety.
- Jimmy Dileo (MSEM ‘18), an environmental health and safety manager at Tesla.
- Naomi Takahashi (MSEM ‘15), working at the Stanford University School of Medicine as a facilities and infrastructure safety manager.
- Several people leading EHS work for the County of San Mateo, including Liliana Meijia (MSEM ‘16), who’s the environmental health program supervisor, Dan Rompf (MSEM ‘12), a Hazardous Materials Specialist IV, and Wesley Won (MSEM ‘01), a Hazardous Materials Specialist III.
- Valere Ossie, a current MSEM student who’s interested in applying what she’s learning to some of the big opportunities in the rapidly evolving EHS space.
We left the conference feeling inspired by the work these leaders and their peers are doing. And we were happy to hear their reflections on the positive impact the MSEM program has had on their career trajectories.
One tidbit: that first-year Environmental Chemistry class does come in handy! In fact, the knowledge gained in that course plays an essential role in helping people secure their Registered Environmental Health Specialist (RESH) certification. Shout out to instructors Amalia Kokkinaki, Adam Hess, and others who have helped students successfully master this important topic over the years.
