Melanie Harrison Okoro, PhD, is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Principal of Eco-Alpha Environmental and Engineering Services, Inc in Sacramento, California. Dr. Okoro has more than 20 years experience in the natural resource protection, water management and environmental stewardship field. Dr. Okoro’s background and leadership training provide her with an exceptional level of unique expertise in California and beyond integrated environmental and engineering management challenges for small businesses.
Before Eco-Alpha, Dr. Okoro worked in a variety of advisory and coordinator positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Sacramento, California overseeing the West Coast Region’s water quality and aquatic invasive species impacts to threatened and endangered species, Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations and regulatory decisions.
Dr. Okoro is a thought leader and advocate for increasing diversity and inclusion in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workforce; served on the council of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) as an Early Career Scientist; the board of directors for the Earth Science Women’s Network (ESWN) and Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth and Space Science (MS PHD’S), all while designing professional development training courses for professionals in STEM. Dr. Okoro currently serves as a Board of Trustee of Sacramento Splash and appointed representative for the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce on the High Speed Rail Business Advisory Council.
Media Highlights:
– NPR Perspective
– American Scientist Perspectives
– Featured “You Should Know Scientist” Scientific America
– Science Communication workshop “Sci-Comm” Ecosystem Concept
– Keynote Speaker Oregon American Fisheries Society
Scholarly Highlights:
– 2016 Baltimore Ecosystem Studies Distinguished Alumni Award
– 2017 NOAA Fisheries Employee of the Year Award
– 2020 High Speed Rail Small Business Partner Spotlight
– 2022 Comstock’s Magazine 40 Under 40
Melanie holds a doctorate in marine estuarine and environmental science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Johnson C. Smith University.