Profiles of Members of EPA's LGBT Community: Andrew Reighart

Profiles of Members of EPA's LGBT Community

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Where were you born?

Baltimore, MD - Home of the Orioles, blue crabs, Old Bay, and Hairspray, Hon!

What brought you to EPA?

I started at EPA as a Greater Research Opportunities for Undergraduates Fellow over the summer of 2012, where I worked in the Office of Global Affairs & Policy within the Office of International & Tribal Affairs supporting Administrator Lisa Jackson’s participation at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and the agency’s Arctic Council portfolio.

Describe the type of work you do at EPA.

After 8 years in HQ working first on pesticide regulation and later Clean Air Act implementation, I've recently made the jump into first-line supervision in a regional lab. In my new role, I oversee an incredibly diverse set of portfolios: facility and security management, safety, health, environmental management, accountable property, fleet management, budget, acquisitions, and IT management. My section's staff perform many of the vital operations that enable our division's field and laboratory staff to gather and analyze samples across all media (e.g., air, water, etc.) to help protect the communities and ecosystems of the Southeastern United States.

What is your highest level of education? What was your major?

I earned my Masters of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, where I completed the environmental policy and international security & economic policy specializations. Prior to that, I attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where I majored in Public Policy Studies and Political Science and minored in Biology, Environmental Studies, Economics, and French – a truly liberal arts experience!

What message would you like to send other members of the LGBTQ community who are considering college or a career in environmental protection?

If you are interested in working at EPA to protect the environment and human health, I would suggest trying to complete a bachelor’s degree and/or engage in professional opportunities that give you a background in both science and policy. Knowledge of information technology, computer science, and contracting are other high need for the EPA. There are so many ways to contribute to our vital mission. Certainly, earning a Masters, JD, and/or PhD can be incredibly useful to a career here at EPA, but don’t feel like a graduate education is required to be a valuable resource to the agency. And as it pertains to the visibility and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ folx and allies, EPA is simply one of the best agencies to work for. We have a deep bench of community-builders and change-makers who are consistently rolling out tremendous programming and delivering tangible improvements– come join us!