Katherine Brady ’94 discovered beauty of the natural world at Ripon College

With a major in biology and a minor in physics from Ripon College, Katherine Brady ’94 of Tustin, California, went on to receive a master’s degree in environmental studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

She now is a senior environmental scientist at APTIM, an engineering and construction firm. Her work includes groundwater and soil remediation reporting, Phase I environmental site assessments, Phase II environmental site assessments, asbestos and lead reporting, soil gas surveys, storm water reporting, compliance, and health and safety.

“I am working in a management role to make the world a cleaner place,” she says. “I love seeing places go from a toxic dump to getting restored to a livable environment. My work involves taking sites with soil or groundwater impacted by chlorinated solvents, petroleum or metals evaluating their extent and then determining the best remedial solution.”

Brady first was attracted to Ripon College because it was a small school and close to her family. She also was accepted into the physics program. “The hands-on and laboratory classwork showed me how beautiful our natural world really is,” she says. “The professors inspired me to become a teacher, which is still one of my goals in life.”

She played clarinet at Ripon for every semester she attended, and she still plays with her local community college. She also volunteers, paints, reads to students and works with Little Free Libraries.

She says her physics background from Ripon allowed her to attain engineering status, and her biology degree and environmental science degree opened many doors for her in the consulting industry.

“Some of the best experience I obtained at Ripon was outside of coursework, including becoming president of the Fencing Club, working at the library in acquisitions, working as a lab assistant making solutions and preparing equipment for use, working on the prairie restoration project behind the gym, and taking walks to the South Woods. These were the some of the best moments I cherish.”

Posted July 12, 2018 in Alumni.

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