“Part of the reason I chose to attend Purdue was knowing that the first-year engineering program would allow me to explore the different disciplines of engineering,” explains Kaminsky. “I was drawn to the multidisciplinary framework of EEE and the community it was creating with students and staff. I fondly remember spending hours in Dr. Larry Nies’s and Dr. Chad Jafvert’s offices discussing every topic under the sun.”

Kaminsky completed a B.S. in Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering (2013). She has been with Burns & McDonnell in Downers Grove, IL for nine years, where she is currently a Senior Environmental Engineer in Environmental Services Global Practice. She works on remediation projects, field investigations for pipeline design projects, and environmental/stormwater permitting projects.

“EEE taught me how to learn and enjoy it. If you enjoy learning it makes not knowing the answer a lot easier,” says Kaminsky. “It also prepared me to approach multidisciplinary/complex problems and processes. Nonprofessionally, EEE showed me how to be a better citizen and contribute to my community.”

During her career, Kaminsky has performed field work including air monitoring, various types of sampling, subsurface investigations, and environmental compliance inspections. She has managed day-to-day onsite activities on large remediation projects, written reports, evaluated data to develop remediation objects, evaluated remedial alternatives/designed remediation plans, and managed environmental permitting projects from the investigations/wetland delineation phase to the permitting phase through construction to restoration.

“My future goals are to become a project manager and work towards additional professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and other professional sustainability certifications. I also want to utilize additional sustainable remediation techniques on my projects,” says Kaminsky. 

Her advice to current EEE students?

“When—not if—you make a mistake, take accountability. Work hard to find a solution and apply what you have learned in the future.”

When not working, Kaminsky enjoys being outdoors, biking, walking, pilates, yoga, coffee, traveling, and spending time with her husband and pets.