Spotlight
McCormick
strives for eco-friendly U
By Dan
Ware
As
Linda McCormick strolls across the UNM Campus, she sees opportunity
everywhere she looks opportunity to help protect the
environment and prevent pollution.
McCormick
has been with UNM for two years in the Safety Health and Environmental
Safety (SHEA) office and was just promoted to resource conservation
manager. Her previous position was pollution prevention specialist.
Its
her mission to identify environmental, pollution and recycling
issues and to assist campus departments, organizations and offices
in coming up with viable solutions to their needs.
McCormicks success is well documented in the number of
awards
and recognition
the university has received from the city and other entities
due, in large part, to her efforts.
Not content
to just help UNM become more environmentally friendly, McCormick
volunteers for numerous conservation and recycling projects
around Albuquerque. She recently helped out with an event sponsored
by Intel, which encouraged residents to recycle old and out-dated
electronics.
She also
devotes time to encouraging young women and girls to pursue
careers and education in math and science through the annual
UNM hosted Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science
conference.
Women
get negative messages about the math and science fields,
McCormick said. Through the program Im able to help
women learn how satisfying these careers can be.
An avid
outdoor enthusiast, McCormick uses her creativity to cultivate
a garden that is environmentally friendly.
My
plants have to work hard for their water, McCormick explained.
She uses her xeric landscaping knowledge to benefit the university
as well, giving advice on the use of drought tolerant foliage
and eco-friendly pesticides.
McCormicks
love of the outdoors and sense of order helped to steer her
toward a career in pollution prevention. After earning a degree
in biochemistry from the University of California at Berkely,
she decided she didnt want to be cooped up in a lab and
went to work for a company that cleaned hazerdeous waste. Never
tiring of furthering her education, McCormick recently earned
a masters degree in occupational safety management.
In her
new position at SHEA, McCormick plans to focus on campus-wide
recycling efforts.
Theres
a lot of potential for development and broadening of scope,
McCormick said. Id like to work on educating the
university on the benefits recycling can give us.
McCormick
is happy to speak with any department or office regarding their
recycling concerns. Call 277-9511.