Students, colleagues, alumni, friends: I am moving with my family to Massachusetts and leaving DC and GW by the end of the summer. When I have determined my final day in the office I will let you know, but the whole staff of the Honors Program agreed it was best to tell you sooner rather than later. The UHP has the support of the Provost’s office and Human Resources to launch a search for a new Program Officer promptly. In the meantime, I’ll be transitioning my responsibilities to the amazing Mary Rothemich. I have been a solo act a few times so I know what a challenge it is, especially in September and October, and Mary will manage with aplomb! You remain in the best of hands with Mary, Alex, Eydie, Prof. Frawley, and the whole faculty.
My wife and I have decided to move for a few reasons, but mostly we miss our family. With two small children we want to be close to our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, and other family and friends. We’ll be relocating to Haverhill, MA, where our eldest can start kindergarten in his new school. There’s no lack of colleges and universities in the Boston area, of course, and I’ll be searching for a position as rewarding and challenging as this one.
The UHP was the start of my professional career, my first permanent job after graduate school. I felt fortunate to be hired but never would have expected to spend thirteen years creating an extraordinary and dynamic academic community. It has been my honor. And yes, that was one more pun for the road.
Because this is Honors, I’m giving you reading assignments for your #honorsproblems.
When you despair of the world, read E.M. Forster’s “What I Believe”.
(http://spichtinger.net/otexts/believe.html)
When you despair of your life, read David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water”.
(http://www.metastatic.org/text/This%20is%20Water.pdf)
Prof. Frawley has suggested (tbh demanded) that I visit frequently, and I solemnly swear I’ll be back for your graduations. As I’ve told so many alumni on their graduation, this is never over. Follow me on twitter, find me on facebook, add catherinebradychandler@gmail.com to your address book.
You remain in my heart and I fully expect to hear from you for years to come.
Catherine Chandler, M.A.
Program Officer
Tag: AY1718
INTERNSHIP: NASA Headquarters, Environmental Management Division
Description:
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is an environmental law enacted in 1970 mandating that each federal agency must comply with standardized regulations, by creating Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for every one of their actions. Being a federal agency, NASA also must comply with these standards. The NASA NEPA team is branched under the Environmental Management Division and works with the various NASA centers, as well as other federal agencies, to ensure compliance with these environmental regulations.
Ultimately, this internship directly serves under NASA’s NEPA Coordinator (Tina Norwood), whom you will work very closely with. This position aids the Coordinator through developing agency-wide education, engaging in ongoing mission projects, helping to propose regulations and procedural requirements, and assisting on other daily matters. Interns will attend meetings, write and edit official documents, and interact with NASA NEPA Center Managers throughout the country. There is a large emphasis on education and personal research. The position is based out of NASA Headquarters, located nearby the Federal Center SW metro.
I held this internship from fall 2016 until the summer, so if you have any questions or are interested in becoming the new intern, please email myself at jlnewmark@gwmail.gwu.edu and I’ll be happy to put you in contact with my old boss! While this position is unpaid, you will gain amazing contacts in the field and learn A LOT about environmental policy, federal bureaucracy, and the impact of the new administration. The hours are very flexible and the atmosphere is fairly relaxed- plus everyone on the team is extremely nice. It is possible to get internship credit for this position– just ask Catherine or Mary about it!
To learn more about NASA NEPA visit: https://www.nasa.gov/agency/nepa/index.html
