Environmental Leadership Program

Ava-Gay Blagrove is an Environmental Specialist with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  In this role she develops and assists in the implementation of agency and citywide environmental emergency response and preparedness plans and procedures.  In addition, Ava-Gay provides technical support and training to first responder agencies addressing citywide incidents involoving biological hazards. She also conducts research on environmental sampling, and mitigation of risks posed by biological threat agents.

Ava-Gay is a strong proponent for increasing minority participation and leadership in the environmental sector.  Towards this end, she is currently working to establish a networking association for minority environmental professionals in the NY/NJ Region to support their career development as well as increase opportunities for mentorship, advancement and community involvement.

Ava-Gay earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the Rutgers University School of Environmental & Biological Sciences and a graduate degree in Environmental Technology from the New York Institute of Technology. She intends to pursue a doctoral degree in the near future.