President

Rachel Morgan is an environmental consultant and Project Manager specializing in site investigation, remediation, stormwater, and other regulatory compliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and is a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in Washington, Oregon, and California. Rachel has been involved in WIE since 2015 and is the current Portland Chapter President. Over the years, Rachel has participated in three chapters of WIE (Puget Sound, Portland, and SF Bay Area) and has served on the SF Bay Area Mentoring Committee, as SF Bay Area leadership, as a Director representing the SF Bay Area on the Board, and on the Portland Professional Development Committee. She has also participated in WIE Mentoring Programs since 2015, first as a mentee and now as a mentor. Rachel values the welcoming and supportive community found at WIE events, and is excited to continue to support WIE in this role.

Vice President

Paula is an Oregon and Washington-Registered Professional Geologist with over 20 years environmental consulting experience. Ms. Parrott is the President of Parrott Environmental Consulting, LLC, a certified woman-owned business and DBE. Ms. Parrott has managed numerous complex environmental investigation and remediation projects for a diverse public and private sector clientele. Her experience includes managing the hazmat portion of transportation and utility-related corridor projects; conducting environmental investigation, feasibility study, remedial design, implementation, and site closure; brownfield redevelopment; and client property acquisition due diligence and negotiation support.  Ms. Parrott is a Women in Environment Mentoring Committee member and current mentor, and was also recognized as a 2022 DJC Women of Vision Honoree.

TREASURER

Shaelyn Thomas has been part of WIE since 2018 and is currently serving at the Portland Chapter Treasurer. Shaelyn has also participated in the WIE mentor program for 4 years, first as a mentee in the Bay Area for two years and then as a mentor for the past two years in Portland. Shaelyn has over 10 years in the environmental field. She received a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and started out her career working for a remediation contractor in California. The contractor specialized in installing HDPE piping systems, well vaults, and well vault mechanical. This was a very hands-on approach to environmental remediation, and she spent a lot of time in the field working on both design-build and more traditional design-bid-build construction projects. For past 2+ years, Shaelyn has been working as an Associate Environmental Engineer at Kennedy Jenks Consultants, specializing in remediation, facilities engineering and stormwater treatment design projects.

For me, attending WIE events have always been enjoyable. I really appreciate the opportunity to meet and learn from women who work in the same field but also approach the work from varying angles and viewpoints. I’m looking forward to supporting and expanding WIE to new members while serving on the board.

Some of my personal interests include snowboarding and snowshoeing during the winter, hiking and bike riding during the summer, and reading all year round.

Vice Treasurer

Jane Sund is an Environmental Engineer at Integral Consulting with over 20 years of experience in the environmental field. She specializes in contaminated site investigation, remedial design, and construction quality assurance and oversight.

A longtime attendee of WIE events in Portland, Oregon, Jane has always been inspired by the amazing women in this community. Now, as a board member, she’s excited to contribute her expertise and leadership to advance WIE’s mission, support like-minded professionals, and advocate for a more inclusive, forward-thinking industry.

Outside of work, Jane embraces all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Whether hiking scenic trails, biking around town, enjoying snow sports, tending her garden, or relaxing along the coast, she finds joy in the region’s natural beauty. She lives in North Portland with her husband and their two beloved kitties, Sally and Lennie.

SECRETARY

Mel is a long-time member of Women in Environment with involvement as an attendee, a mentee, a mentor, a communications committee member, and now as the Portland Chapter Secretary. Mel is a Principal Geologist with over 25 years of diverse professional experience in the environmental consulting field. She currently works on the Environmental Management Permitting and Compliance team at SLR Consulting and holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Occidental College.

WIE has been very valuable for me by providing a welcoming space to connect, learn from, and be inspired by other professionals and upcoming professionals in the environmental field. I enjoy WIE’s focus on personal growth, networking, and fun.

Networking Committee Chair

MENTORING CHAIR

Erin VanDehey is a partner at Mason, Bruce & Girard, Inc. (MB&G) and Principal of MB&G’s Environmental Services Group. She has more than 25 years of experience as a lead fisheries biologist with particular emphasis on threatened and endangered species, natural resource management, mitigation and conservation plans, restoration, and regulatory compliance. Erin is a long-time member of WIE and has thoroughly enjoyed being both a mentor and serving on the mentoring committee since 2019.

Mentoring Committee Co-chair

Shira is a Project Manager and Senior Geologist based in Portland, Oregon.  She has 20 years of experience in contaminated site assessment and remediation.  She has diverse experience in project and site management of remedial investigations, developing site-specific contaminated site models, identifying sources of contamination in soil, groundwater, sediment, and stormwater, feasibility studies, and remedial actions.

Shira has been involved in WIE’s Portland Chapter since 2016 and participated in the mentoring committee for 6 years.

Professional Development Committee Chair

Professional Development Committee Chair

Alia studied history and environmental studies as an undergraduate at UC San Diego and later moved to the Pacific Northwest to attend law school at Lewis & Clark. She has practiced environmental law in Oregon for over 20 years and is an attorney in Stoel Rives’ Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources group, where she advises clients on complex challenges arising under federal and state environmental laws. Alia has extensive experience working with clients on issues related to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and analogous state cleanup laws, and her background and familiarity with natural resources issues, permitting and land, and government law give her a depth of experience that helps clients manage environmental risks in development of a range of projects and transactions. Alia also counsels clients on environmental compliance, with an emphasis on solid waste and materials management. She advises paper, packaging, and manufacturing clients regarding extended producer responsibility requirements, including under Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act.