User:SydtheSloth22/Melanie Harrison Okoro

Early life and education[edit]
Melanie Harrison Okoro was born on November 22, 1982 in Cocoa Beach, Florida to Eugene Harrison Jr. and

Sharon Harrison. While Okoro was still a child, her family moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, where she grew up. Okoro first discovered her interest in environmental science through swimming and fishing with her great-grandmother and twin sister in Lake Martin, Alabama. Okoro was a member of her high school's basketball team, and she attended Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina on a basketball scholarship. Going into JCSU, Okoro intended to become a medical doctor. At JCSU, Okoro's advisor was Joseph Fail, an ecologist in the school's biology department, who she credits with guiding her to major in biology. Okoro graduated from JCSU in 2005 with her B.S in biology, and finished her education when she received her Doctor of Philosophy Ph.D., in Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2011.

Career and research[edit]
Dr. Melanie Okoro is a Marine Estuarine and Environmental Scientist, as well as the founding CEO and principal of Eco-Alpha Environmental & Engineering Services. Her firm provides environmental and engineering consulting services.|325x325px Okoro is currently the founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and principal of ECO-ALPHA Environmental and Engineering Services, a environmental and engineering consulting, staffing, and training firm located in Sacramento, California. Eco-Alpha helps solve their clients' complex environmental and engineering challenges. Before founding Eco-Alpha, Okoro worked for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Okoro joined NOAA as a graduate scientist in 2009, and became a Water Quality Specialist and Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator in Sacramento, California, where she held the position for seven years. While in this position, Okoro oversaw water quality, and monitored aquatic invasive species impacts on threatened and endangered species in California, as well as in-land and coastal regions of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, the Chesapeake Bay, Michigan, and Maryland. Okoro specializes in marine estuaries. Her areas of research and policy expertise include environmental aquatic biogeochemistry, professional natural resource management, and STEM diversity initiatives.

Public engagement[edit]
Okoro is known for her efforts in promoting diversity in STEM fields, and she has held multiple positions in several organizations related to diversity and inclusion. Okoro has served on the council of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) as an Early Career Scientist and was the Diversity & Inclusion task-force chair. Okoro was a member of the Earth Science Women's Network's Leadership Board from 2016-2018. The Earth Science Women's Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a resilient community that lifts all women and moves the geosciences forward. She is also a member of Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth and Space Science's (MS PHD'S) leadership board, an initiative established to facilitate preparation and advancement of underrepresented minorities (African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans) within the Earth System Science Community. Okoro is also an active member of the board of trustee of Sacramento Splash. Sacramento Splash is a network of expert environmentalist that are passionate about teaching students and training teachers exciting and stimulating ways to inspirer the youths of the next generation about nature and science. As well Okoro is an appointed representative for the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce on the High Speed Rail Business Advisory Council (SBCC). The SBCC's was established in 1985 and it's goal is to provide the necessary tools, diverse networking, and innovative ideas to African American business owners and professionals to form strong economic structure within Sacramento's business community. Okoro also uses social media to educate users on environmental science and issues, specifically regarding invasive species and water pollution.

Awards and honors

 * 2022 COMSTOCK’S Magazine / Young Professionals 2022
 * Partner Highlight: Melanie Okoro, Ph.D. (Eco-Alpha)
 * 2016 Baltimore Ecosystem Studies Distinguished Alumni Award
 * 2017 NOAA Fisheries Employee of the Year

Selected publications[edit]

 * Harrison, Melanie D.; Miller, Andrew J.; Groffman, Peter M.; Mayer, Paul M.; Kaushal, Sujay S. (2014). "Hydrologic Controls on Nitrogen and Phosphorous [sic] Dynamics in Relict Oxbow Wetlands Adjacent to an Urban Restored Stream". Jawra Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 50 (6):1365–1382. doi:10.1111/jawr.12193. S2CID 129911392.
 * 10.2134/jeq2010.0335
 * Johnson, Ashanti; Harrison, Melanie (October 20, 2023) [March / April 2015]. "The Increasing Problem of Nutrient Runoff on the Coast". Scholarly Journal. American Scientist. Vol. 103, Iss. 2,.
 * 10.2134/jeq2010.0335
 * Johnson, Ashanti; Harrison, Melanie (October 20, 2023) [March / April 2015]. "The Increasing Problem of Nutrient Runoff on the Coast". Scholarly Journal. American Scientist. Vol. 103, Iss. 2,.

External Links[edit]
2023 Guest Speaker UMBC GRIT-X "Global. Research. Innovation. Trends." Disruptive Thinking - A bold business strategy to change. How we lead, innovate, and transform companies in the 21st century.