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Washington Forest Protection Association, consultant 

Wrote the article, "Linking with community to reclaim natural areas for education" in Clearing magazine (Fall 2002), which provides environmental education resources for K-12 teachers. Also prepared grant materials and a database to tally interdisciplinary environmental education test scores.

 

Benzene Causes Cancer book and Web site 

Worked closely with cancer researcher Delbert Parkinson to develop the his book, Benzene Causes Cancer. Prepared content for the Cancer Prevention Theory website, which examines the question of how benzene and benzene derivatives in laundry detergents and medications may cause cancer.

Chelsea House Publishers 

Edited college-level books about HIV/AIDS, smallpox, typhoid fever, and Campylobacter, which are part of the Deadly Diseases and Epidemics series published by Chelsea House Publishers.

 

Radian Corporation 

As the manager of Radian Sacramento's Technical Communication group, I hired technical communication professionals and spearheaded our fledgling Community Relations team to respond to new public involvement laws enacted in the 1980s, traveling to client sites to implement community involvement plans. I also edited sampling plans, regulatory compliance reports, health risk assessments, epidemiological studies, and environmental impact statements. Some of the projects I worked on include:

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY 
This family-friendly company found itself at the center of a media storm when a manufacturing chemical stored at its tank farm was detected in the groundwater under surrounding neighborhoods. Our Radian Corporation team prepared videotapes and newsletters so neighbors could better understand the nature of the chemical that spilled, the environmental investigation that was planned, and cleanup scenarios that were considered. We also held one-on-one interviews to prepare homeowners for extensive in-home environmental monitoring and conducted public meetings where stakeholders could discuss their concerns with company representatives, health officials, and environmental scientists.
 
McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, CA 
In the 1990s, this Air Force base was recognized as the worst hazardous waste site in the nation. Chemicals used in aircraft maintenance had migrated through the soil and into groundwater so neighbors near the base could not use their well water. As the leader of Radian Corporation's Technical Communication team, I conceptualized many aspects of Radian's community relations response and hired and managed staff to implement our campaign. Our goal was to reestablish constructive communication between the Air Force and people living near the base. Communication tools at the heart of our award-winning public involvement campaign included a videotape shown to base neighbors and Pentagon officials that highlighted new technologies used at the base to prevent further contamination, brochures, fact sheets, press packets, and regular public meeting to explain cleanup work being done on and around the base.

World War II-era airfield, Galena, AK 

My job was to open up communications between Native Alaskans in a small community near the Arctic Circle and Air Force officials in Anchorage. I worked with a community whose way of life was affected by environmental contamination at a remote airfield and who felt forgotten by the Air Force. After many one-on-one interviews, I compiled the community's concerns and relayed them to Air Force officials. I then prepared a public information and education plan to address those concerns and present mitigation scenarios.

 

Governor’s Diesel Fuel Task Force, Sacramento, CA

When the State of California introduced its "environmentally friendly" diesel fuel in the mid-1990s, representatives from trucking, engine manufacturing and repair, petroleum manufacturing, and labor organizations took the state to task about the safety and usefulness of this modified fuel. As the communication liaison on a team of environmental scientists from Radian Corporation, I mediated discussions among 39 political, industrial, agricultural, and consumer groups appointed to the Governor's Diesel Fuel Task Force. The Task Force studied the environmental and economic impacts of this fuel, then prepared a report for Governor Pete Wilson that defined problems users had with the fuel and identified studies needed to address these problems.

 

Chair, Community Awareness Committee, Sacramento Community Awareness & Emergency Response Group

Prepared a community relations plan to educate the public about how Sacramento area manufacturers and Department of Defense installations were taking precautions to avoid contaminating the environment and responding appropriately if environmental contamination did occur.

University of California, Davis

Extension Program

Taught courses about public participation, health risk communication, and environmental conflict resolution for professionals taking continuing education courses.

 

Public Service Research & Dissemination Program

As a science communication intern, I wrote articles about environmental toxicology and helped organize a Groundwater Conference for Journalists that examined health effects of subsurface water contamination.

 

School of Medicine  

As a science communication intern, I wrote press releases and articles about research projects for medical school publications.