ESE Alumni Profiles
Ecological Sciences and Engineering
Our alumni go on to make meaningful contributions in academia, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. See where their ESE experience has taken them.
Associate Professor
University of Arkansas
Home Department: Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Mentor / Lab: Indrajeet Chaubey
Specific Research Area / Project: Watershed Modeling
Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website
About Me
I am originally from Arkansas where I recently moved back as faculty in 2023. I have a 4 year old and my favorite hobbies are reading and gardening.
Awards
- Lori Libbert New Faculty Commendation, UA Teaching and Faculty Support Center, 2024
- Invited Participant, First Connections to Sustain Science in Latin America, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, 2024
- Early Career Alumni Award, University of Arkansas College of Engineering, 2022
- Outstanding Faculty Mentor, ASU Faculty Women’s Association, 2021
- Inductee to the Arkansas Academy of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, 2020
- New Face of American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2020
- France A. Cordova Leadership in Action Award, Purdue University, 2014
- ABE Outstanding Service Award, Purdue University College of Engineering, 2014
- Emily M. Wadsworth Graduate Mentoring Award, Women in Engineering Program, Purdue University, 2012
- Robert E. Stewart Engineering and Humanities Award, American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 2011
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2009
Publications:
Leadership:
- At Purdue I was involved as the President of the Graduate Student Government (as well as secretary and ABE representative). I was also a Peer Ombudsman, Leadership in the Graduate Mentoring Program, and participated in many WIEP programs like I2R.
Associate Professor
George Washington University
Home Department: Civil Engineering
Mentor / Lab: Ernest R. Blatchley III
Specific Research Area / Project: Water and Food Development in International Context
Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website
About Me
Dr. Grady is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at The George Washington University in Washington DC. She also runs a niche consulting firm called CGR Strategies LLC. Prior to joining GWU, Dr. Grady served as an Assistant Professor at The Pennsylvania State University. Her academic background and research expertise spans a variety of engineering and policy domains across food, energy, and water systems. This includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches to studying systems such as agricultural trade, the electricity grid, natural hazards, and adaptation to climate change. Prior to her academic roles, she held several federal government roles including with the House of Representatives, the Department of Energy, and the Department of State. In these roles, she worked on a myriad of issues including agriculture, water & energy, air quality, budget & appropriations, international development, and diplomatic engagement.
Awards
- During School: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship; Borlaug Fellowship on Global Food Security
- Faculty: NSF CAREER award; Lawrence J. Perez Memorial Student Advocate Award, Penn State; Non-Resident Fellow to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs “
Publications:
Leadership:
- During School: Women in Engineering
- As a Faculty: Women in Engineering; Ethics in Engineering
Home Department: Mechanical Engineering
Mentor / Lab: Bill Hutzel
Specific Research Area / Project: Biofiltration in an Energy Efficient, Residential, HVAC System
Lab / Personal work-related websites: Lab Website
About Me
Perhaps not unlike other undergraduates in mechanical engineering, I made the mistake of going in to the discipline because I was “good at math and science” and I wanted to keep my options open. However, I quickly learned the traditional mechanical engineering jobs (design and manufacturing valves, gears, machines, etc.) did not interest me; I could not see their broader impacts. It was not until the summer after my sophomore year I realized my interest in thermodynamics and pursued this interest by conducting energy audits for the Iowa DNR as a Pollution Prevention Intern. This is where I found my passion, using my analytical mindset to help the environment and further society. I decided to further my education in the field by coming to Purdue, joining the ESE program to better understand global problems, working part-time at Purdue Facilities to apply my current skillset and developing technological solutions through my research.
Awards
- ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant
- P3 Award Recipient Phase I
- 2nd Place Poster, Ecological Sciences and Engineering Annual Symposium
Leadership:
- ESE Symposium Logistics Manager and Peer Mentor
- ASHRAE Student Chapter President and Treasurer
- Purdue Energy Forum Member
- USGBC Student Chapter Member
Assistant Professor
UNC Charlotte
Home Department: Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Mentor / Lab: Laura Bowling
Specific Research Area / Project: Investigating Barriers to Implementing Stormwater Control Measures Using a Mixed Methods Approach
Lab / Personal work-related websites: Professional Research Site
About Me
I grew up in Saint Paul, MN where I attended college as a first-gen student studying engineering. I always knew I wanted to pursue a doctorate degree and with the support of many fantastic mentors, professors, friends and my mom, I completed my PhD in 2017. Since then, my journey has been trying to decide what I want to be, the context for the type of work I want to do, and where I want to do it. Now that I’m on the faculty side, I have even more respect for the ESE faculty, my committee and my advisor…advising students, managing research and teaching, and applying to grants is a lot of work! I’m very grateful for my time at Purdue in the ESE program and in the ABE department. The training, education and guidance I received was excellent and have empowered me to continue to excel as a researcher.
Awards
- 2023-2024 Radcliffe Salata Climate Justice Fellow, Harvard University
- 2017 The Graduate School’s Most Outstanding Interdisciplinary Project Award, Purdue
- 2016 Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship, Purdue
- 2011 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellow, Purdue
Publications:
- Selected Publications: Hoover, F-A., Scarlett, R. 2023. Ch. 2 Escaping Exclusion; Conservation, Greenspace and Urban Planning in the Age of Environmental Justice. IN Conservation with Cities, and the central role of equity in addressing the biodiversity crisis. Eds: Schell, C., Lambert, M. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 9780198877288, https://10.1093/oso/9780198877271.001.0001
- Lee K, Aronson M, Clark J, Hoover F, Joo H, Kremer P, La Rosa D, Larson K, Lepczyk C, Lerman S, Locke D, Nilon C, Pearsall H, Vargo T. 2024. Limitations of existing park quality instruments and suggestions for future research. Landscape and Urban Planning. September; 249:105127-. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105127 McElwee, P.D., Kofi Akamani, Amanda L. Babson, Gillian Bowser, John B. Bradford, Jennifer K. Costanza, Theresa M. Crimmins, Sarah C. Goslee, Stephen K. Hamilton, Brian Helmuth, Serra Hoagland, Fushcia-Ann E. Hoover, Mary E. Hunsicker, Roxolana Kashuba, Seth A. Moore, Roldan C. Muñoz, Gyami Shrestha, Lynker, Maria Uriarte, Jennifer L. Wilkening, Chapter 8: Ecosystems, Ecosystem Services, and Biodiversity IN A. Crimmins, et al., (Eds.), The Fifth National Climate Assessment. US Global Change Research Program, Washington, D.C., USA. https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/8/ Hoover, F., Coleman, E., Meerow, S., Grabowski, Z., McPhearson, T. 2023. Why go green? Comparing rationales and planning criteria for green infrastructure in US city plans. Landscape and Urban Planning 237, 104781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2023.104781
- Jordan, P., Hoover, F., Hopton, M. 2022. Leveraging ancillary benefits from urban greenspace-a case study of St. Louis, MO. Urban Water Journal, 19 (3) 314-323. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2021.2001544
Leadership:
- Purdue Graduate Student Government Treasurer (2012-2013, 2014-2015)
- Keystone Lecture Series (2012, 2013, 2015)
- ESE Symposium Fundraising Chair (2012)
- Ecological Sciences & Engineering Peer Mentoring Program mentor (2014-2015)
- Recruitment Co-chair, Agricultural & Biological Engr. Graduate Student Association (2013-2014)
- Undergraduate mentor, Purdue Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Mentoring Program (2013-2016)
- Graduate Student Coordinator, Purdue Women in Engineering Program’s Innovation to Reality After School Engineering Program (2012-2013)
- Purdue Graduate Student Government Senator (2011-2012)
- Graduate Student Representative, Purdue University Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee (2011-2012)
- Recruiter, Regional MANNERS Conference (2012)
