My career has evolved from hands-on scientific work during graduate school at Georgia Tech to leading technical and policy-focused teams within government, where science and public policy intersect to shape real-world outcomes. During my seminar, I’ll reflect on how the critical thinking skills and technical foundation I developed at Georgia Tech have supported my professional growth and enabled me to contribute to the development of transparent, defensible air quality policies within statutory, legal, and political frameworks that serve communities and stakeholders.

Since leaving Georgia Tech, I’ve worked at both the state and federal levels, and I’ll discuss the distinctions between them—how priorities, authorities, and implementation responsibilities differ.  I will also draw on specific projects I have worked on that drive decision-making in each setting, highlighting how scientific analyses at both levels ultimately shape air quality policy at local, state, and national scales. I’ll also reflect on my transition from a deeply technical, project-focused role into a program management position—leading teams, setting strategic direction, and allocating resources while remaining meaningfully engaged in the science that underpins sound policy.

Finally, I’ll share practical insights for students considering careers in the public sector, including strategies for navigating the government job search, identifying and articulating transferable skills, and building key competencies before graduation that can help position them for a successful transition into a career in government.