A Farewell but not a Goodbye to a Civil Servant that Never Wavered on her Dedication to the Environment Completed

Kathy Lee’s last position with the USGS was as one of the Deputy Program Coordinators for the Environmental Health (EH) Program. If asked what she did, she could probably list a multitude of jobs and roles she filled during this time, ranging from outreach, author, website producer, program manager, mentor and moderator. However, this was just a portion of her time with the USGS, as a dedicated civil servant for almost 30 years, Kathy was also a valuable part of the USGS in Minnesota and Kansas. She led groundbreaking research with the Upper Mississippi NAWQA (effects of agriculture, urban and forested land use on nutrient enrichment, fish populations, and aquatic habitat). In addition to NAWQA, she also performed the first statewide surveys of endocrine disruptors in fish and water within Minnesota.

Kathy is passionate about the Great Lakes and their tributaries, both personally and with her research. Her research within the Great Lakes ranged from contaminants of emerging concern, estrogenic effects, neuroactive pharmaceuticals, and later developed into a nationwide effort on informing the public of research throughout the USGS EMA/Environmental Health Program. Once working for the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program (part of the Environmental Health Program) she worked tirelessly in highlighting the science within the program through science features, GeoHealth Newsletters and storymaps. These efforts highlighted the research of more than 200 scientists throughout the program.

Kathy took her job seriously and spent her career fostering the next generation of scientists and managers within both the water-resources and environmental health communities. More importantly, these technicians/scientists/ and students consider her a lifelong friend, confidant and resource. Her honesty, candid personality – mixed with a heap of joie de vivre – makes her an easy person to work with. Those that she mentored will continue to make an impact in their field of science. You can see her featured in the USGS circular on Women in Science.

Everyone in their early career aspires to make a difference, and to do it in a meaningful way that motivates others. Kathy succeeded in her aspirations. She can juggle a handful of priority tasks and stop to listen to problems in another section to give suggestions. Sometimes though, it’s the simple things that make a difference, being that person that folks know will almost freeze to death just to sleep outside to witness a clear sky and a million stars. Just knowing that the support is there, even if not needed immediately.

During difficult times when the future of the mission and science supported by the EH program were uncertain, Kathy lead by example and continued her management responsibilities without hesitation while consistently sending positive messages about EH to the work force that continue to resonate and inspire today. Former supervisors have mentioned what a pleasure it was to mentor and work with Kathy, and they wished everyone was as insightful.  As it is, everyone would be lucky to have a colleague and direct report like her.

We all want to thank you Kathy for your dedicated career and contributions to the USGS scientific community.  I feel comfortable to say we will all miss working with you, but this is not goodbye.