Meant to be

Hi! I’m Kristi Ashley.  I never really thought about the environment and how much it meant to me growing up until the summer that changed everything for me.  It was the summer before my senior year in high school.  I was like any typical teenager until then, I guess, pretty popular in school, straight A’s, and a high school cheerleader.  That summer, I attended a pre-college summer program.  It was a summer program geared toward juniors and seniors to teach them about careers in agriculture.  My professor in the program gave me a book to read about the degradation of the Gulf of Mexico, and I was shocked that this was going on in the world.  I felt sorry for the plants and animals that could do nothing for themselves.  I was mad at the people (us) who were creating this problem.  

This started my love for the environment.  Also, my dedication to it.  I majored in Soil and Plant Science (Agronomy) at Alcorn State University.  I went on to Louisiana State University and received a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science.  After graduation, I worked for the Environmental Protection Agency.  I now work for the Federal Aviation Administration as an Environmental Program Manager.  I have worked in many aspect of the environmental field.  I have worked with Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund sites, NEPA and, in February, I will be starting a new journey with sustainability and energy efficiency.  

But that is just my day job.  I also love to teach.  I have taught online at several universities for the past 7 years. Because my love for the environment came from a professor, it is my mission to be that professor for some student.  I love to see the realization in them that environmental science is a passion and a cause.  

My journey is definitely not close to ending.  I’m just mid-30’s!  I have many more chapters of my book to write.  I hope you all follow me, and I can teach you something along the way that will help you in your life and career’s journey.  I also hope you can teach me something as well.  Think of me as a good friend sharing stories over a coffee or better yet brownies.   Talk to you soon!