Chair, STC.UNM Board of Directors
Director, Environmental Health Department, City of Albuquerque
Education
BS – Civil Engineering, UNM
MS – Structural Engineering, Stanford University
Business/Research Background
A former regent of the University of New Mexico, Ms. Begay was recently appointed by Mayor Tim Keller as the Director of the Environmental Health Department for the city of Albuquerque. In 1992, she joined Sandia National Laboratories, where she is currently on a special leave of absence as a Principal Member of the Technical Staff and head of Sandia’s technical efforts in the Renewable Energy Program to assist Native American tribes with renewable energy development. Prior to this, she also worked at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories and at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Particular Knowledge and Skills
Ms. Begay is a former Executive Director of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), former chair of the AISES Board of Directors, and the recipient of the AISES Lifetime Achievement Award. The mission of AISES is to substantially increase the representation of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in STEM studies and careers. Recognized by WEPAN (Women in Engineering Programs & Advocates Network), she has served on its national Board of Directors. In 2003, Ms. Begay was awarded the Women of Color Emerald Honor for Community Service during the Third Annual Women of Color Research Sciences and Technologies Awards Conference. In 2000, Ms. Begay was the recipient of the Stanford University 2000 Multicultural Alumni of the Year Award. She has also been selected as a recipient of the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Women from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women.
Ms. Begay recently received the Alumni Circle Award from the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) for her lifetime contributions to the advancement of Native American students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers. Ms. Begay is the site mentor at UNM-Gallup for the NM Rainforest University Center program.