Placement: Solid Waste Management Department

What I worked on: Revising policy, AP 2-15, the Green Purchasing Policy to reflect updated technologies. In addition to maintaining the emphasis on post-recycled materials, the new policy will encourage the purchase of energy-efficient vehicles and equipment and environmentally-friendly maintenance supplies.

Hometown: Lafayette, LA

School: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Field of Study: Environmental and Sustainable Resources (Community Sustainability) & Modern Languages (Spanish)

Selected Honors: 2006 “Person of the Year” for running the Save the Horse Farm campaign; member of Phi Kappa Phi; “Mother Earth” Award from the Society of Peace, Environment, Action and Knowledge

Selected Activities and Community Involvement: Advisory Board member for the Mayor’s Youth Council; Co-founder and board member of the non-profit EarthShare Gardens; President of SPEAK, ULL’s environmental activist club

Prior Work Experience: Naturalist/Educator at the Acadiana Park Nature Station, teaching the 4th grade environmental education program

Why Houston is important to me: Houston has immense potential to be a “model environmental city” as Mayor Bill White has envisioned. Also, due to the entrepreneurial spirit and immense diversity of this city, Houston presents a unique opportunity to watch how various groups interact and successfully transition into the new demographic reality.

Something unique about me: I am passionate about sustainable design, intentional community, and encouraging local economies. No matter where my career takes me, I know my focus will always center on these three things.

What I’m doing now: I just completed a Dual Degree Masters of Science in Community and Regional Planning and Urban Design at the University of Texas at Austin, where I also worked as a Research Assistant for events and outreach at The Center for Sustainable Development.  I have now returned to Houston, where I am a full-time urban planner with the smart growth nonoprofit BetterHouston!