Symposium Biographies€¦ · volvement (CSI) team. In 2012, Mustafa created and produced the Environmental Justice in Action Blog which currently has over 100,000 followers. The

1

Environmental Youth Symposium 2014

“Creating Action through Environmental Stewardship and Research in the Southeast”

Symposium Biographies

Caroline Freeman-Robinson — Moderator

Senior Advisor Academic Institutions, EPA Region 4

Caroline Y. F. Robinson serves as the Senior Advisor for Academic Institutions in the

Southeast to the EPA Region 4 Administrator. In her position, Ms. Robinson supports

academic Institutions in the Southeast efforts to infuse environmental sustainability

into its infrastructure and curriculum, to ensure that this model is exported to academic

institutions which serve environmentally challenged communities.

It is the intent of EPA Region 4 to create student internships and develop faculty ex-

change opportunities with the federal government and at the same time, facilitate and

identify research, data analysis and peer-review opportunities with federal agencies for

faculty and students.

Ms. Robinson is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State Univer-

sity with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has over 23 years of experience with the Environmental Protection

Agency in the areas of enforcement for the Clean Air Act Program and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Program. She also has a background in managing remediation activities at waste sites, and asbestos management/

abatement.

Prior to joining EPA, Region 4, Ms. Robinson was a Paper Mill Project Engineer with International Paper Company, and

a design engineer with Simon’s Eastern Engineering Consultants.

Mustafa Ali — Moderator

Environmental Stewardship—Office of Environmental Justice, EPA Headquarters

Mustafa Santiago Ali is a founding member of the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)

and has played a major role in the design and implementation of many of EPA’s most suc-

cessful programs focused on environmental justice and community revitalization. He cur-

rently serves as the Acting Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Environmental Justice.

In this role Mustafa helps to elevate EJ issues to the highest levels of the agency and works

across programs to integrate and strengthen all of EPA’s EJ initiatives. Mustafa’s work

promotes meaningful, working relationships with EJ communities, as well as builds strong

partnerships to address some of the country’s most persistent environmental challenges.

Mustafa is the former Associate Director in the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s

Office of Environmental Justice where he led the Communication and Stakeholder In-

volvement (CSI) team. In 2012, Mustafa created and produced the Environmental Justice

in Action Blog which currently has over 100,000 followers. The blog highlights innovative

actions to address environmental justice, sustainability and climate change issues. He

served as the Environmental Justice lead in 2010 for the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Additionally, in 2009 he served as the Designated Federal Official for the Workgroup on Nationally Consistent EJ

Screening Approaches of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), a federal advisory committee

to the U.S. EPA.

Mustafa has been a National Speaker, Trainer and Facilitator on Social Justice Issues for over 20 years with a specific

focus on the issue of Environmental Justice, Sustainability and Community Revitalization, both on the domestic and in-

ternational front to secure environmental, health and economic justice.

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V. Anne Heard — Opening Remarks

Acting Deputy Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4

Ms. Heard is the Acting Deputy Regional Administrator for the United States Environ-

mental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4. In this capacity, she provides leadership on

the implementation and direction of Region 4 programs in the southeast. Immediately

prior to assuming this position, Ms. Heard was Acting Regional Counsel for Region 4

and a Senior Advisor on Community Engagement.

Before returning to Atlanta, Ms. Heard spent many years in Washington, D.C. simulta-

neously serving as EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance’s Federal

Facilities Enforcement Office (FFEO) Acting Deputy Director and Director of FFEO’s

Site Remediation Enforcement Staff (SRES). Ms. Heard has managed various EPA

headquarters and Region 4 legal offices, and led staff who provided enforcement and counsel support to regional pro-

gram offices.

Ms. Heard began her EPA Region 4 career as a legal intern and joined the Region full time in 1979 after working almost

two years in a community practice law firm based in Atlanta’s Inman Park neighborhood. She has extensive legal expe-

rience under all the statutes implemented by EPA including the Clean Air Act; Clean Water Act; Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act; Oil Pollution Act; Underground Storage Tank Program; Safe Drinking Water Act; Federal Insecti-

cide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; Toxic Substances Control Act; and, Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation and Liability Act. She was detailed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Geor-

gia where she worked as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, and she served for two years as an advisor to Clark

Atlanta University’s (CAU) Vice President for Sponsored Programs under an Intergovernmental Personnel Act assign-

ment. At CAU, she worked collaboratively with faculty and staff to identify ways to integrate environmental concepts

into existing academic programs, helped develop and sponsor a summer environmental training institute for elementary

and middle school teachers, and helped organize CAU’s first Earth Day Celebration. She received her undergraduate

degree from Duke University, and her J.D. from the Emory University School of Law.

Bryan Myers — The President’s Agenda on Climate

Energy and Climate Change Coordinator, EPA Region 4

Mr. Myers has worked for EPA for over 18 years gaining a broad base of regulatory ex-

perience across several media. He has worked as both an engineer and attorney, and was

the designated EPA regional congressional liaison. Mr. Myers is currently the Energy and

Climate Change Coordinator for Region 4, based out of Atlanta. He has been working to

encourage the climate preparedness and resilience dialogue, as well as broaden renewable

energy development in the southeast. Mr. Myers has a law degree from the University of

Oregon and Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech.

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Heather McTeer-Toney — Keynote Speaker

Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4

Heather McTeer Toney was appointed by President Barack Obama as Regional Adminis-

trator for EPA’s Southeast Region in January 2014.

Prior to coming to the Region, she was the first African-American, and first female, to

serve as Mayor of Greenville, Mississippi from 2004-2012. Most recently she served as

Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Student Learning and TRIO programs

at Mississippi Valley State University.

A true daughter of the Mississippi Delta, Mrs. Toney was born and raised in Greenville,

the daughter of a civil rights attorney and a public school teacher. While many of her

friends were leaving Mississippi, upon graduating from college, she returned home to

work as a member of McTeer & Associates Law Firm. Throughout her legal career, she has handled a diverse group of

cases ranging from employment discrimination to medical malpractice and was well versed in the corporate political

arena.

In 2003, she was elected Mayor of the City of Greenville and re-elected for a second term in 2007. Under her leadership,

the city thrived, emerged from significant debt, and received millions of dollars in grants and federal assistance. Addi-

tionally during her tenure as mayor, Greenville completed major infrastructure projects, and involved the community in

numerous health and wellness initiatives throughout the city, focusing on local health, wellness, and women’s issues.

She also served as an advocate, speaking out against domestic violence, unfair legislation and labor practices in the State

of Mississippi.

In her new role, Mrs. Toney is responsible for protecting human health and the environment in the eight southeastern

states, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as six

federally recognized tribes, making Region 4 the most populated and diverse of ten regions. In addition, she leads efforts

to maintain and enhance the quality of work life for Region 4’s approximately 1,000 employees while effectively man-

aging a budget of more than $500 million.

Mrs. Toney has received numerous awards and honors, and has appeared on news outlets such as CNN, Fox News,

MSNBC and C-Span. She has been featured in The Washington Post, Jackson Clarion Ledger, Jet, Marie Claire, Es-

sence and The Mississippi Business Journal. She is also a published author in Voices of Historical and Contemporary

Black American Pioneers Vol. 2. She was also featured in the May 2005 issue of Essence as one of the “50 Most Re-

markable Women in the World.”

Mrs. Toney earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Spelman College in Atlanta. She earned her law degree

from the Tulane University School of Law. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Magnolia Bar Asso-

ciation, the Washington County Bar Association, and an alumni of the Young Elected Officials Network. She also

served as past president of the National Conference of Black Mayors, and as past chair of the EPA Local Government

Advisory Committee.

She enjoys reading, and is an avid runner, having completed a marathon, triathlon and numerous other races. She is a

member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and an active member of New Living Way Christian Fellowship Church

in Greenville. Mrs. Toney credits her parents, Victor and Mercidees McTeer, as the catalysts for her commitment to ad-

vocacy and community service. She is married to Dexter Toney and they have two children.

4




Christoph Sander — Keynote Speaker

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany—Atlanta GA

Christoph Sander was appointed Consul General of Germany to the Consulate General in

Atlanta in August 2012. He is the official representative of the German government to the

southeast of the Unites States. The consular district includes Alabama, Georgia, Missis-

sippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Christoph began his career in 1983 following his graduation with a law degree from the

University of Hannover. He has served assignments in Bonn and Berlin, Germany; New

Delhi, India; Islamabad, Pakistan; Budapest, Hungary; Caracas, and Chicago, Ill.

Christoph just spent the last three years as deputy head of mission (second in command to

the ambassador) and head of the economic section in Venezuela. He is an expert on Euro-

pean politics and economics and is a frequent speaker.

Christoph is a native of Dusseldorf, Germany. He is married to Becky, they have three children.

Curriculum Vitae

from August 2012 Consul General of Germany, Atlanta, GA

2009 - 2012 Deputy Chief of Mission and Head of Economic Section German Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela

2006 – 2009 Head of Section, European Single Market, German Foreign Office, Berlin

2003 – 2006 Deputy Chief of Mission and Head of Political Section German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan

1999 – 2003 Head of Economic Section, German Embassy in Budapest, Hungary

1996 – 1999 Deputy Head of Section, Transatlantic Relations, German Foreign Office, Bonn

1992 - 1996 Deputy Consul General, German Consulate General in Chicago, IL

1989 - 1992 Desk Officer, Trade Policy, German Foreign Office, Bonn

1986 - 1989 Consul, German Embassy, New Delhi, India

1983 - 1986 German Foreign Office, Bonn

1983 Law degree from University of Hannover

1979 Married to Mbehena S. Becky Sander, née Mogot 3 children

1953 Born in Düsseldorf, Germany

5




Iris Schultz — Moderator

Advisor for Public Affairs, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of

Germany, Atlanta GA

Iris coordinates the efforts of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge for the Consulate Gen-

eral of the Federal Republic of Germany in Atlanta. This initiative was launched by

the German Government in 2008 to foster the exchange of best practices and to con-

nect and support those working to address the challenges of sustainability, energy

security and economic growth at the local, state and the federal level In the United

States and in Germany.

Prof. Dr. Peter Michael Heck — Sustainable Clean Energy

Director of IfaS

Since 1996, Professor Dr. Heck is the director of IfaS and also serves as Professor

for material flow management at the University of Applied Science Trier. He is

also an associate professor at the Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University, Japan and

guest professor at the Kunming University of Science and Technology, China.

Next to his academic work, he works as CEO for GAIATECH Consult and has

published several books and joint work on material flow, sustainable development

and energy technology.

Prof. Dr. Heck received his doctorate in Geography from the University of Saar-

land in 1996 with the completion of his dissertation: “Taiwan from economic mir-

acle to ecological crisis – a critical analysis.” He also holds degrees in Biogeogra-

phy and Political Science. During his career he has served as advisor and consult-

ant to both governments and the corporate world. He taught, conducted research

and worked internationally, focusing on but not limiting his work to Asia. His continuous efforts to promote ecological

solutions and sustainable development mark his academic and professional expertise.

Prof. Dr. Heck has collaborated with fellow researchers and many governmental and non-governmental institutions,

ranging from China and South East Asia, to Turkey and to the European Union. He speaks English, French, Chinese and

Japanese and is a member of various professional Environmental and Solar Energy Groups. Prof. Dr. Heck very much

enjoys teaching students at both the undergraduate and the graduate level and looks forward to engaging with the Ameri-

can students participating in the Environmental Youth Symposium.

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Robert Burns, EPA Region 4 — Watershed Impacts

Climate Change and Water Coordinator

Robert Burns is an Environmental Engineer in EPA Region 4’s Drinking Water

Program. In his career at EPA, he has experience in wastewater treatment and com-

pliance, Environmental Management Systems and drinking water treatment and

regulation. Robert is Region 4’s Climate Change and Water Coordinator. As such,

he coordinates work on projects and initiatives that Region 4’s Water Protection

Division leads related to adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects on the

water resources of the Southeast. Robert has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering de-

gree from Georgia Tech and a Master of Business Administration degree

from Georgia State University.

Sharon L. Ricks — Health Challenges

Deputy Regional Health Administrator, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Sharon Ricks is the Deputy Regional Health Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she utilizes her communication skills and ex-perience to passionately promote public health programs, strategies, and messages that have the power to change policies, environments, and behaviors and to eliminate barriers to the achievement of health equity in the eight southeastern states.

Mrs. Ricks has 28 years of federal experience and previously served as a Public Health Advisor for the Office on Women's Health (OWH) where she was the prima-ry advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health on a broad spec-trum of policy and program development issues affecting the 10 HHS regions. She had lead responsibility for coordinating and developing a national women's health strategy and for implementing women's health activities at the regional, state and local levels.

Prior to OWH, she supported public affairs activities at three institutes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. At NIH, she published more than 100 public health articles, educational materials, and news releases on research ad-vances related to endocrine and metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, deafness and other communication disorders.

She was a recipient of the 2002 NIH Plain Language Award, the 2003 Office of the Secretary’s Employee of the Quarter Award, the 2006 Regent University Distinguished Alumnus Award, the 2013 Regional Director’s Award for Innovation, and numerous special act and performance awards.

Mrs. Ricks received her B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland University College in 1990 and her MA in Journalism from Regent University in 2004. She and her husband are native Washingtonians. They have seven children and live in Tyrone, Ga.

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Thomas L. Baugh, Regional Scientist

Office of Research and Development, EPA Region 4

Tom began his career with EPA as a chemist in the Office of Research and Development's

(ORD) Cincinnati, OH laboratory where he performed hazardous waste treatment research

from 1977-1981. In 1981, Tom accepted a position as an Environmental Protection Special-

ist with the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency. Three years later (1984), Tom returned to EPA

working for a year as a chemist in the Office of Solid Waste year before returning to ORD.

Tom worked in ORD's Headquarters office until 1997. At that time, Tom accepted the ORD

Regional Scientist position in EPA Region 4 (Atlanta, GA) and continues to serve in that

role.

Tom received a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from Indiana Universi-

ty. Tom also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier (of Cincinnati) University.

Jay Benforado

Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, Office of Research and Development

Jay Benforado is a senior executive in the USEPA’s Office of Research and Develop-

ment. As Deputy Chief Innovation Officer, he encourages new approaches to sus-

tainability, including a competitive program that provides internal awards to EPA

scientists for high-risk, high-reward research – from sustainable alternatives to toxic

chemicals to net zero approaches for water, waste and energy in communities. Other

innovation activities include challenges and prizes, development of real-time envi-

ronmental sensors for air and water pollution, and using citizen science to empower

communities. Previous positions at EPA include Director of the National Center for

Environmental Innovation and Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy, Econom-

ics and Innovation in the Office of the EPA Administrator.

8




Anup Shah — Sustainable Energy Judge

VP Environmental Affairs, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

As vice president of Environmental Affairs, Anup Shah oversees the Metro Atlanta Cham-

ber’s (MAC) work on water, sustainability, air and quality growth issues – playing a key

role in bringing the region’s environmental stakeholders together to find long-term solu-

tions to pressing sustainability issues.

In this capacity, Anup manages the activities of the Environmental Policy and Sustainabil-

ity Committee and E3 Awards at MAC. He also led the efforts to develop a regional sus-

tainability dashboard to benchmark the region on the key sustainability metrics.

Prior to joining MAC, Anup spent more than a decade in the environmental consulting

field. He is a registered professional engineer and a member of numerous professional as-

sociations including the Water Environment Federation and Georgia Association of Water

Professionals. Anup holds a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering from Georgia

Tech and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He is also a LEED® accredited professional.

Anup lives in Gwinnett County with his wife and two sons.

Ryan Brown — Sustainable Energy Judge

Environmental Engineer, Air Monitoring Section, U.S. EPA Region 4

Ryan Brown is an Environmental Engineer in the Air Monitoring Section at EPA Region

4’s office in Atlanta, GA. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Physics from Washing-

ton University in St. Louis and a Master’s of Science in Environmental Engineering from

Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He has previous work experience in

hazardous waste remediation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act. Ryan currently

works on the implementation of EPA’s ambient air monitoring regulations in the south-

east, analysis of air quality data using open source coding, and has an interest in new air

monitoring technology.

Judy Knight — Sustainable Energy Judge

Director of Communications, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance

Judy is a sustainability enthusiast and a technology industry veteran with twenty years of

experience in marketing communications, market research, and press and analyst rela-

tions. In addition to providing marketing counsel for several sustainability organizations,

she has held corporate communications, marketing, PR, and product management posi-

tions with technology firms including British Telecom Infonet, Rockwell, Air Touch and

AST Computer.

Prior to joining SEEA, she served as the director of communications for Southface Ener-

gy Institute, where she was responsible for landmark communications projects including

the launch of the Southface Eco Office and also its Southeast Weatherization and Ener-

gy Efficiency Training Center.

9




Gina Kelly Montgomery— Sustainable Resource Conservation Judge

Special Projects Corporation Program Manager, Black & Veatch

Ms. Montgomery currently serves as the Black & Veatch Special Projects Corporation

Program Manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Remedial Action Con-

tract in Region 4.

During her career in environmental management, which spans over 20 years, she has

worked under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program where she

has managed multiple indefinite delivery type work assignments including remedial inves-

tigations and designs; feasibility studies, risk assessment, green remediation, and environ-

mental justice.

Ms. Montgomery received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public

Administration from Walden University.

Jay V. Bassett — Sustainable Resource Conservation Judge

Chief, Materials Management Section—U.S. EPA Region 4

Jay leads EPA Region 4’s Sustainable Materials Management program for the eight southeastern state Region consisting

of Georgia, Florida, Alabama., South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. He is responsi-

ble for developing and implementing the Region’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) program in transforming

EPA’s RCRA program to meet the 2020 vision and “Road Ahead” principles through promoting efforts to effectively

manage materials and products on a life-cycle basis, building capacity and integrating materials management approaches

in existing government policies and programs, and accelerating the broad, ongoing public dialogue on materials manage-

ment.

Jay is retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of Commander. He is married to the former Jill Reeves (Agnes Scott ’87

and W&M ’89) and with his children Michael, Bryn, Erin and Melissa resides in Snellville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlan-

ta.

Vivian Doyle— Sustainable Resource Conservation Judge

Tennessee Watershed Coordinator, US Environmental Protection Agency,

Region 4

Vivian Doyle has sixteen years of experience with the USEPA in regulatory and non-

regulatory programs in the Air and Water Divisions. Currently, as the TN Watershed

Coordinator, she utilizes integrated land management, monitoring and comprehensive

approaches through partnerships to address water quality as a result of growth and devel-

opment. As Watershed and Community Based Environmental Coordinators, she has ex-

tensive experience working with several agencies in developing joint initiatives to high-

light accomplishments, leverage funds and concentrate recommended efforts on selected

watersheds to improve the air and water quality.

Mrs. Doyle has a Bachelor of Science from Xavier University and a Master of Science in

Environmental Health Management from Tulane University School of Public Health &

Tropical Medicine.

10




Kimberly Ajy— Urban Systems in the Environment Judge

President and CEO of River to Tap, Inc. Kimberly Ajy is the President and CEO of River To Tap, Inc. a women-owned

small business with offices located in Georgia and Florida. She has worked more

than 23 years in water treatment and environmental compliance.

Ms. Ajy has spent most of her career managing projects that focus to maintain and

improve the quality of source water, protecting streams from municipal discharges,

and developing long-term protection programs for the sustainability of water re-

sources. She has extensive knowledge of water resources in the Eastern US where

she has assessed the impacts of rapid development.

Ms. Ajy has served as a Trustee to American Water Works Water Resources Sus-

tainability Division, a member of the Source Water Protection Committee, and a

member of the American Water Works Standards Council. Ms. Ajy is a Charter member of the Women’s Giving Circle

of the Atlanta Boys and Girls Club and a Sustaining Member of the Society of the American Military Engineers. Ms.

Ajy holds a U.S patent for her work in sludge dewatering.

Ms. Ajy received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Chemistry from Rutgers University and a Masters of Science degree in

Environmental Health from Temple University College of Engineering. She is the wife of George Ajy and mother to

Samir Ajy that is 12 years old.

Michael W. Burns — Urban Systems in the Environment Judge

Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator CUPP Program, U.S. EPA Region 4

Michael W. Burns was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in outside of Pittsburgh, Pa for most of his life. He

graduated from the United States Naval Academy, and spent eight years in the Navy as an engineering officer, visiting

over ten different foreign countries. Upon leaving the Navy, he spent four years in the private sector as a plant engineer

for two different companies, and returned to federal service as a civilian marine chemist. Over the last twenty plus years

in the federal government, Mr. Burns has been a Supervisor of Environmental Engineers; a Chief of Facilities for the

Southeast Region of the National Park Service; a Director of Regional Public Works; Deputy Director of Base Opera-

tions for the Army Reserve; and an Executive Director for the Southeast Region of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Burns is current-

ly a Senior Advisor for the Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, where he manag-

es the College/Underserved Community Partnership Program (CUPP), which he created in 2011.

Mr. Burns is married to the former Vera Gordon, and has one son, TuRae, who is a successful stand-up comedian. He

also has five wonderful grandchildren.

11




Sharron V. Porter — Student Poster Session Consultant

Environmental Engineer, U.S. EPA Region 4

Sharron Porter works for EPA Region 4 as an Environmental Engineer. She has devoted over 25 years of her

EPA career as an enforcement professional working to protect the public and the environment. She has a wide

array of regulatory experience across many different industrial sectors. She has led inspections at chemical

facilities and coordinated teams of inspectors to evaluate and analyze enforcement data to determine the over-

all compliance status of facilities. Ms. Porter has also worked with the Department of Justice on the negotia-

tion of settlement at these facilities with an emphasis on emission reductions and better work practice stand-

ards. She has also served as the EPA Region 4 Lead Auditor for Environmental Management System projects.

Ms. Porter holds a degrees in Chemistry from Clark Atlanta University and a degree in Chemical Engineering

from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Phalia McCorkle-Kester — Intern

U.S. EPA Region 4

As a 2014 Pathways Intern with the U.S. EPA Region 4, Phalia has worked on projects

such as creating a survey for the City of Clarkston to implement a culturally sensitive anti

-litter campaign and identifying areas where federal partner’s Climate Change Adaptation

Plan goals overlap thus leaving the door open to collaboration. A recent MPH graduate of

Benedictine University, Phalia has over 12 years of experience in healthcare with a focus

on Mental Health and Clinical Research (Cardiothoracic Surgery), 11 years in Public Re-

lations/Journalism, and a diverse portfolio in Project Management (Healthcare IT, clinical

research, and construction).

Phalia McCorkle-Kester enjoys reading and writing in her spare time. She resides in Duluth, GA with her husband and

two children.

Roberto Pastrana — Intern

U.S. EPA Region 4

As a 2014 Pathways Intern with the U.S. EPA Region 4, Roberto has worked on creat-

ing the Sustainable Initiatives and Environmental Research Manual for academic insti-

tutions of higher learning in the southeast. This manual provides an overview of initia-

tives that illustrate environmental leadership primarily at academic institutions having a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the southeast. The manual will be distribut-

ed at the 2014 Environmental Youth Symposium. Roberto is currently an undergraduate

student of Georgia State University (Andrew Young School of Policy Studies).

When not studying, Roberto enjoys travelling and working with cars in his spare time.

Originally from Puerto Rico, he resides with his family in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

12




R. Javoyne Hicks White — Closing Remarks

Chief of Staff to Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4 R. Javoyne Hicks White is the Chief of Staff to Regional Administrator in Re-

gion 4. Ms. Hicks White joined the Environmental Protection Agency from the

DeKalb County, Georgia, District Attorney’s office.

As the Chief of Staff, Javoyne Hicks White, responsibilities include implement-

ing high level policy decisions, accomplishing Regional Administrator’s Com-

munity Engagement Initiatives as well as executing organizational processes to

help facilitate the Region’s high-caliber technical, financial, legal, and adminis-

trative performance. Mrs. Hicks White also leads the Region in its ability to

meet critical deadlines while managing the overall health and maintenance of

the organization and its people.

Prior to embarking on her environmental career, Ms. Hicks White worked as a prosecutor for more than 17 years. In

other prior positions she worked for the Georgia Attorney General’s Office. She has served as an associate magistrate

and as an assistant district attorney in three judicial circuits in Georgia. Hicks White is a past president of the DeKalb

Bar Association and served on the boards of Leadership Georgia and the Georgia State Bar Board of Governors.

While at the District Attorney’s office, Mrs. Hicks White served as the Acting District Attorney and the Chief Assistant

District Attorney. She managed the office’s white collar crime, domestic violence/sexual assault units, drug court, a pre-

trial diversion program, the Grand Jury and the office’s Juvenile Court unit. She also supervised the child support unit,

support staff, and oversaw the development and implementation of office policies and procedures, human resources mat-

ters and the budget.

A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Ms. Hicks White earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Documents

Symposium Biographies€¦ · volvement (CSI) team. In 2012, Mustafa created and produced the Environmental Justice in Action Blog which currently has over 100,000 followers. The