DR. DONNELLY & HIS CAREER

EnviroEducation.com: Tell us about your career. Where did it begin? How and why you become involved at EPA, Duquesne?

Dr. Donnelly: I began by career as a process engineer in an organic chemical plant in 1968. That was the time when environmental issues started to gain attention and I became the plant environmental compliance specialist. This led me to consider a career with EPA and I joined one of EPA's predecessor agencies in 1970. I spent the first part of my EPA career conducting compliance inspections and water quality studies and then moved into the area of laboratory management. In 1990, I decided that I wanted to have a second career and that it would be in academia. I went back to school to earn a Ph.D. that would qualify me for this next step. I had served as the EPA representative to the Environmental Science and Management (ESM) Program Advisory Board here at Duquesne from 1992 until 1995 when I retired. When I completed my graduate work in 1996, Duquesne was looking for someone to lead the ESM program and I was fortunate enough to be selected.

EnviroEducation.com: Do you have a personal environmental philosophy?

Dr. Donnelly: I think that environmental problems are too often polarizing. They pit reasonable people from regulatory agencies against other reasonable people from industry organizations. They are all generally interested in preserving the environment. Personally, I believe that we should assume good intentions on the part of all, respect each other first as people, negotiate in good faith without hidden agendas, and be reasonable. I guess it would be: Follow the Golden Rule.

EnviroEducation.com: Your specialty is in chemical engineering. Why did you choose that area for your career? Do you have any other specialty areas?

Dr. Donnelly: When I was in high school my guidance counselors strongly encouraged me to enter the engineering field. My father worked in the steel industry and my choices came down to metallurgical or chemical engineering. I chose chemical engineering because it was a little broader in scope and seemed to have the most promising future. My education, experience, and interest have led me to pursue the areas of organizational behavior and analysis as well as public policy.

THE ACTUAL WORK

EnviroEducation.com: Tell us about what you did with EPA. What was your position and what were the responsibilities?

Dr. Donnelly: Early in my career I did a variety of things ranging from inspecting some of the most poorly performing wastewater treatment plants in the mid-Atlantic states to collecting water samples on the Chesapeake Bay. I conducted compliance inspections in support of most of the regulations for which EPA is responsible and also did some water quality modeling.

During the later half of my career, I served as first and second level supervisor of teams of chemists and biologists responsible for analysis of environmental samples and for assuring the quality of data generated for the Agency.

EnviroEducation.com: Tell us about Duquesne. What are your responsibilities?

Dr. Donnelly: We have a professional graduate program in environmental science and management. I am responsible for recruiting, admission, student advisement, assisting students in finding internships, and career placement.

EnviroEducation.com: Tell us about where you work. What do you like most and least? Do you ever regret leaving EPA - why or why not?

Dr. Donnelly: I very much enjoy the academic atmosphere. It is great to meet young, energetic people who are pursuing environmental careers and to be able to help them achieve their goals. I also enjoyed my career at EPA but have no regrets about my decision to retire and come here to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is a very livable city and Duquesne is a wonderful institution, so I feel blessed to have found this situation.

JOB INFORMATION & ADVICE

EnviroEducation.com: What are some of the skills that help all environmental professionals succeed?

Dr. Donnelly: Environmental professionals need strong technical/scientific skills but must also have interpersonal and communication skills to succeed.

EnviroEducation.com: What are the best ways to find a job in the academic sector?

Dr. Donnelly: As in most fields, networking and competence are importance. You first have to prove yourself as a teacher and a researcher but the importance of personal and professional contacts should not be underestimated.

EnviroEducation.com: How is the job market right now? How do you think it will be in the next five years? 10 years?

Dr. Donnelly: The environmental job market has improved significantly in the last few years. Much of the hiring right now seems to be in the consulting business. I would guess that the market would remain cyclical but should stay relatively strong over the next 10 years. We still have a large number of problems and issues to address.

EDUCATION INFORMATION & ADVICE

EnviroEducation.com: What advice can you give to prospective students who know that they want a career that will benefit the environment, but are unsure about what discipline to study?

Dr. Donnelly: Certainly the engineering disciplines are always good preparation for environmental careers. Also important are biology and chemistry with possibly an environmental minor or a graduate environmental degree.

EnviroEducation.com: What factors should students consider when choosing an environmental program?

Dr. Donnelly: First, they should look at whether the program will help them reach their career goals. A degree in resource management would prepare people for different careers than one in environmental science or environmental policy. Second, they should take the time to visit the schools that they are considering to attend some classes and meet the faculty. Third, they should make sure that faculty research areas are of interest to them if they want to do research. Finally, and maybe most importantly, they should find our where graduates of the program end up working.

EnviroEducation.com: Does it make a difference in the industry to graduate from a prestigious school?

Dr. Donnelly: Probably from the top half dozen schools but after that the kind of coursework becomes more important.

INDUSTRY TRENDS

EnviroEducation.com: What are some trends that you see in the field that might help prospective students?

Dr. Donnelly: In terms of the industrial sector, I see that most companies are downsizing their environmental staffs and outsourcing much of their work that is not related to individual facilities. Entry-level jobs seem to be at the plant level and with consulting firms who are the beneficiaries of the outsourcing. Many companies are also combining their environmental functions with health and safety. Students with some background in all of these areas are very marketable.

EnviroEducation.com: How have computers and the Internet changed the environmental industry?

Dr. Donnelly: They have made much more information available much more quickly. Regulations can now be searched online instead of having to read through pages of the Federal Register.

ADMISSION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

EnviroEducation.com: When selecting students for admission into your program, what factors are considered by you and your admissions staff? (e.g. grades, test scores, class rank, experience, etc.)

Dr. Donnelly: We look at a combination of undergraduate grades and GRE scores. For undergraduates who got off to a slow start, we look for improvements in grades during the junior and senior years. We also weigh experience in our decision. If someone had a poor undergraduate record but has fashioned a successful career, we take that into consideration.

EnviroEducation.com: Describe the ideal candidate for admission into the Bayer School.

Dr. Donnelly: A candidate with some professional experience and an undergraduate degree in engineering or the natural sciences.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about the educational and career outlook for Environmental Science majors, click here.