Environmental and Energy Management program faculty, students and alumni were heavily involved in the “SEAS 2015 Celebration of Student Achievement” ceremony that was conducted in the Smith Center on Friday evening, May 15, 2015. In addition to several dozen EEM graduates, EEM Lead Professor Jonathan Deason served as the School Marshall (emcee for the event), EEM Assistant Professor Ekundayo Shittu served as the Chief Faculty Marshall, and EEM alumnus Kristy McDonnell Ortiz served as the Keynote Commencement Speaker for the event.
Kristy Ortiz currently is the Managing Director at Pace Global Energy, a consulting firm located in the DC area. Prior to her current position, Kristy was with the Boston Consulting Group, Black & Veatch and served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Kristy received her Master of Science degree in Environmental and Energy Management from GW in 2001, following her graduation from GW with a Bachelor Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, which she got in 1999. During her tenure as Managing Director at Pace, she has successfully integrated the company to the worldwide organization Siemens following its acquisition of Pace in 2011.
During her speech, Kristy reflected on her two degrees from SEAS, a Master of Science degree in Environmental and Energy Management (2001) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering (1999). She said that, although she went to Harvard after GW, “my heart has always been with GW and SEAS.”
Kristy encouraged students to take advantage of the analytical thinking skills they developed in SEAS and use them to both find opportunities to make a difference in the world and to challenge themselves. She cited a quote that hung on the wall of her first manager’s office as advice for the graduates: “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” Kristy said “Give a little extra.” Kristy also instructed the new graduates to always be on the lookout for professional opportunities and take them. “Today, you should celebrate,” she said. “Tomorrow, be an engineer. Solve the challenges. Be a leader.”
A complete copy of Kristy’s speech can be seen by clicking the following link: SEAS Commencement Keynote Address – Kristy Ortiz