Maithilee Das Lappin was raised in a desert. Her hometown of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, averages only 3.73 inches of rainfall per year. Regardless, it remains one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

“Water has always fascinated me,” Maithilee reflects. “Even in the desert, we had the infrastructure and systems to deliver clean water, and that blew my mind. Watching my hometown grow over the years sparked my interest in civil and water engineering, even though I wasn’t entirely sure what those fields entailed at the time.”

Intent on following her father’s engineering path and driven by her keen interest in water, Maithilee moved from Dubai to attend Purdue University in 2011.

“It was through an advisor in Civil Engineering that I learned about Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE), and I was thrilled by the curriculum. I never thought I could take ecology classes as an engineer!” Maithilee exclaims. “I immediately knew it was for me.”

Maithilee began to explore various avenues of EEE including water-quality engineering. While in a course from EEE Prof. George Zhou, who had experience at a consulting firm, she accepted his advice to attend conferences, join professional societies, and network with other professionals at technical water conferences.

“His advice was instrumental; without it, I might not be in the position I am today,” Maithilee shares.

Maithilee is currently employed at Greeley and Hansen, a TYLin Company, a water and civil engineering consulting firm that serves various regions across the globe. She secured her first position at Greeley and Hansen by inquiring about her job application at their booth during a professional conference, WEFTEC. Nine years later, Maithilee is an Associate at the company. Her responsibilities span water and wastewater infrastructure design, construction services, program management, and climate action and resiliency work, which is one of her passions.  

While Maithilee loves her work, she is also deeply committed to community outreach, emphasizing education and public service. As Board Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Editorial, Public Communication & Outreach Committee for the Indiana Water Environment Association, she helps them fulfill their mission of “preserving and protecting Indiana’s waterways through educating our members and the citizens of Indiana about the importance of our water environment.” Maithilee also serves on the Board of Directors for Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.She is the current Board Secretary and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Committee, where she gets to be involved in another cause she is passionate about.

Maithilee’s path from the desert of Dubai to Purdue University and beyond exemplifies the pursuit of knowledge and a deep commitment to sustainability and lifelong learning. As she continues to make waves in Indiana’s water environment, she is making plans to inspire others and make a difference.

In reference to her future, Maithilee shares, “I hope to connect communities with challenges to communities with solutions. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. We need to communicate, learn from each other, and then we can really start to see some wonders.”