Bella Realey

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT BELLA REALEY

Fight the good fight\"This philosophy has stuck with me since I first heard it my sophomore year of high school. I knew fighting the good fight would be the basis of my educational, professional, and personal lives. In school I knew I wanted to focus on the environment, but to also include the human aspect. I majored in Environmental Management with two minors in Nonprofit Management and International Studies (Environmental Justice). I was able to study abroad to focus on coral reef conservation on the island of Bonaire in 2019. I had prepared a research plan to complete on Little Cayman in March of 2020, but was unable to complete it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To make up for it, I completed my PADI Advanced Open Water SCUBA Diver certification. I worked as a teaching assistant for the Law and Public Policy course in SPEA as well as a manager and barista at Crumble Coffee and Bakery in downtown Bloomington. With so many amazing memories and adventures, it was bittersweet to graduate in three years rather than the traditional four.After graduation, I was fortunate to start my professional career with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management\'s Drinking Water Branch. In this position I worked with many different municipalities and businesses across Indiana to ensure compliance with safe drinking water standards. This position placed me at the intersection of policy, science, and people. I am grateful to all of the wonderful connections I made there.In May of 2022, I started my current position as an Ecologist and Waterway Permitting Specialist (Fort Wayne District) with the Indiana Department of Transportation. In this role, I spend my days reviewing Waters of the United States reports, editing permit applications to IDEM and the US Army Corps of Engineers, coordinating with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and completing field days in mitigation sites all over Indiana. I\'ve been lucky to have completed botany training and wetland construction training. Throughout field season, I have had the opportunity to complete amphibian surveys, bat surveys, and water quality assessments in addition to my normal job. My favorite part of my job is utilizing my plant and tree identification in the field! In my free time I enjoy hiking our local, state, and national parks, kayaking, gardening, and SCUBA diving. I\'ve become a volunteer with Friends of White River\'s River School program as a raft guide and Indiana Clean Lakes Program monitoring water quality at Eagle Creek Reservoir.