I joined the NESEA community as a mentee in NESEA’s 2022 Pilot Program: Energy Leaders Fellowship. The knowledge and experience I gained from NESEA and my mentors inspired me to give back. I volunteered for the 2023 and 2024 Content Committees and plan to continue my involvement. During my time on the 2023 Content Committee, I interned at BR+A and had the honor of connecting the keynote speaker to the 2023 Conference. I also volunteered for the Editorial Committee for Volume 42 - Winter 2024 and intend to stay involved. As the past president of the Northeastern University Sustainable Building Organization (NUSBO), I embraced NUSBO and the NESEA connection by inviting NESEA professionals to present to NUSBO students and encouraging NUSBO members to attend BuildingEnergy Boston.

The 2022 Pilot Program: Energy Leaders Fellowship introduced me to NESEA’s expert and engaging community that champions climate justice and equity in the built environment while supporting emerging professionals. This program allowed me to attend significant conferences like BuildingEnergy Boston for the first time as a student. Since then, every NESEA event, meeting, and conference has provided me with invaluable knowledge, networks, and experience. I am deeply grateful to be a part of this community, to learn and grow with NESEA. I want to serve on the Board to give back to NESEA community and to contribute to NESEA’s legacy in the built environment, while paying it forward to help more emerging professionals access great communities and resources like NESEA.

I admire NESEA’s efforts to support emerging professionals, foster inter-generational connections, and cultivate a cross-disciplinary community while advancing climate justice and equity. My active involvement with industry organizations positions me to help NESEA expand the emerging professional program and strengthen intergenerational connections within the community: As a recent graduate, I am connected to the student network through NUSBO and the New England Future City Competition; as an emerging professional, I am actively involved with communities such as Built Environment Plus (BE+)'s Women in Green and Emerging Professionals (EPMA), and Young Professionals in Energy (YPE). I have experience in connecting different communities, for example a joint event between BE+ EPMA and YPE. My background in mechanical engineering and experience in sustainability align with NESEA’s mission to foster a cross-disciplinary community, and I plan to use this experience to support NESEA in further developing this aspect.