Introducing Emily Steele, New Trustee of the Sanitary District

This month we welcome a new and highly qualified Trustee to our Board of Directors, Emily Steele. Emily is the Media Communications Manager for the University of Illinois Extension and a Decatur resident. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Eastern Illinois University and an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We are excited to add her expertise to the Board. She replaces Megan Baskerville, whose dedication and contributions these past eight  years will be greatly missed. 

Environmental Conservation Background 

As a full-time environmental communicator, Emily understands the issues we at the Sanitary District face, and the diverse stakeholders in these issues. She serves on the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Implementation Team, which collaboratively tackles the problem of excessive phosphorous and nitrogen in waterways. This past year, she won the Individual Extension Excellence Award, which recognizes staff who demonstrate excellence in areas such as leadership, inclusive programming, and community impact. 

Connected to Communities 

Emily recently presented Strategies for Engaging with Communities about Invasive Species at the Illinois Invasive Species Symposium, which offered actionable, localized ways to empower citizens and foster positive behavior change. When Trustees are active and engaged with our community, as Emily is, the Sanitary District benefits with an expanded communications network, improved public image, and greater access to needed resources. 

Please join me in wishing Emily the best of luck in her new role on our Board of Trustees. We are grateful for each and every Trustee who devotes their time to ensuring the Sanitary District operates in the best interests of the public and our environment.