July 25, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Katya Altman graduated with a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences last year, and she's already well into the next phase of her scientific and professional career. In February, she began a one-year John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Sea Grant College Program.
Based in Washington, D.C., Altman's executive placement is as an Engagement Advisor for Environmental Justice with the Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Office of Environmental Programs (OEP). The EOP provides overall program and policy direction and support for BOEM's environmental activities and works to ensure environmental protection in the context of the Bureau's larger role in overseeing the development of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. This includes managing geological, energy and mineral resources in both environmentally and economically responsible ways.
Altman's environmental health sciences journey began when she moved from her native Russia to the U.S. and completed a Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management degree at the University of South Carolina.
"I wanted to have a more robust understanding of sustainability theory and practices, locally and globally," Altman says of her decision to build on her undergraduate degree in public relations and communication. "This includes finding ways to engage people in making more sustainable decisions and to find a balance between well-being and protecting the environment for future generations."
During her master's program, she gained experience with the university (e.g., Sustainable Carolina, NOAA Risa Team) and state agencies (e.g., SC Department of Natural Resources, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control). After graduation, Altman continued working on state drought preparedness and response and volunteered with a water quality monitoring program along the coast.
Inspired by these experiences, she enrolled in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences' doctoral program and was accepted into USC's Graduate Civic Scholars Program. Over the past few years, Altman has taught various courses and played a key role in the NIH-funded Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions, which was led by ENHS chair Geoff Scott and Paul Sandifer at the College of Charleston and engaged with the EJ Strong initiative, a Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) training program.
"Katya was instrumental in convening the Center's stakeholders to develop a National Oceans and Human Health Community Engagement Strategy," Scott says. "This work allowed us to better inform the public about the public health effects of harmful algal blooms, Vibrio bacterial infections, and contaminants of emerging concern."
Last year, Altman secured her own grant. As principal investigator on an international project with the Future Earth Coasts network, she's leading research aimed at enhancing global coastal sustainability. Her Tour de Coasts study was featured at the 2024 Sustainability Research and Innovation (SRI) Congress in Finland.
Several months into her fellowship, the ENHS department's Ph.D. student of the year award winner has been enjoying life in the nation's capital. She likes exploring the D.C. area with visits to public lands and museums and a tour of the White House with the SC Sea Grant Consortium.
"With my degree and experiences at the Arnold School, I feel very prepared for my role," Altman says. "I am developing an internal capacity-building environmental justice training for staff, finding ways to make community engagement more effective with the use of stakeholder management software, and working on a study of public health impacts of BOEM-authorized activities."
She's also enjoyed learning more about the federal government's work in addressing complex societal issues (i.e., sustainability and climate change) and finding ways to incorporate environmental justice understanding into federal day-to-day activities. She will look for full-time employment in academia, government, or non-governmental organizations nationally and globally at the end of her fellowship year.
Our Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences program prepares graduates for successful and rewarding careers in teaching and research across the fields of environmental health and human health. We also offer a graduate certificate and two master's degrees programs.
