Updated: March 14, 2007

Women's History Month – Julie Stein

While studying abroad in Nairobi, Kenya, Julie Stein became fascinated by the work of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan activist who changed the landscape of her country by planting trees with other Kenyan women. Maathai’s work helped foster Julie’s own interest in sustainable development, an interest that eventually led to her current position as DEP Project Manager for the Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan.

DEP’s Jamaica Bay Plan is an extraordinarily comprehensive project, and one that requires the skilled navigation of complex urban development, ecological and community issues. Prior to DEP, Julie worked in watershed planning for a California consulting firm and received her Master’s in City Planning from UNC-Chapel Hill, both of which prepared her for her current position. She feels fortunate to be involved in a project of such enormous scope, especially one whose ultimate goal is the improved quality, integrity and sustainability of New York’s water bodies.

Julie was born and raised in New York, and after several years studying and working in North Carolina and California, she is happy to be back in the City, particularly because of its diverse culinary options. Julie’s advice for younger generation is to “develop good communication skills, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and always be ready to take on a challenge.”