Updated: March 14, 2007

Women's History Month – Theresa Norris

Theresa Norris attributes her interest in engineering to her mother’s constant encouragement. She describes her mother fondly as a woman who always expressed pride in her daughter’s accomplishments and never pressured her towards any one path in life.

At DEP, Theresa has followed this model, using her degrees in engineering (a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Polytechnic University and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from Manhattan College) to pursue multiple, interesting roles within the Agency.

She started with DEP in 1999 as a Process Engineer, working in the field at three different wastewater treatment plants before becoming Technical Information Manager of the Process Engineering Section. Most recently, she was named Acting Section Chief for the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Compliance Section. In this position she manages information regarding the City’s 14 wastewater treatment plants and their compliance with various federal and state regulations.

With a diverse career stemming from a single passion, Theresa encourages younger generations to identify their interests at a young age, whether through internships or cooperative education programs. She believes that “while classroom experience is important, it does not provide an accurate picture of what you will actually be doing once you get a job in your chosen field.”