CHRISTINA M. AGUILERA
May 29, 2015
Sub: Director of Environmental Health and Safety Letter of Application
Dear Ms. Bontrager:
I was pleased to hear from Steve Galitzer about the director of Environmental Health and Safety position at
K-State. For the past 17 years I have held management positions in educational organizations - leading,
enhancing and promoting environmental health and safety programs. This includes ten years as director of
environmental health and safety programs at the University of Northern Colorado and Jefferson County
School District and seven years managing environmental compliance and industrial hygiene/occupational
safety programs at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus.
In these leadership positions, I participated in institutional strategic planning and organizational
restructuring as well as developing and implementing departmental strategic and finance plans that aligned
with changing institutional goals. I have focused on ensuring efficient, cost effective, relevant, and
responsive customer service. My experience includes the direct supervision and mentoring of professional
staff. Facilitating the growth and capitalizing on strengths and talents of staff has allowed me to make
positive programmatic changes with measurable outcomes, while ensuring staff are committed and
appreciated.
Within my resume are examples of professional experience that include policy development, budget
management, compliance agency negotiations, emergency and contingency planning and response,
campus outreach, and the implementation and oversight of environmental health and safety programs
recognized for excellence. This includes the development of compliance and training programs mandated
for the award and acceptance of federal grant money and auditing processes for adherence to chemical,
biological and radiological safety protocols and procedures. I have overseen these programs along with fire
and life safety and risk management functions within higher education institutions. I also currently serve as
a member of the university hazardous materials response team.
I use social marketing techniques to solicit compliance to safety controls and cultivate a positive university
safety culture. My doctoral research is in safety behavior and compliance to safety controls within the
veterinary and animal care fields. I have additional professional experience in environmental consulting
and project management (Kleinfelder) and federal contract environmental assessment and laboratory
services (Lockheed).
My education, experience and skills meet the qualifications for the position. I would greatly appreciate the
opportunity to provide specific examples of my communication, problem solving, and fiscal management
skills and explain my leadership perspectives. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Yours Truly,
Christina M. Aguilera, MPH, CHMM
CHRISTINA M. AGUILERA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Manager Environmental Compliance & Industrial Hygiene
University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
August, 2007 – Present
Responsible for environmental compliance, industrial hygiene and hazardous materials programs for two
campuses. Supervise 4-7 employees, manage budget, develop RFPs and provide contractor oversight.
Alternate Responsible Official for Select Agents program. CFATS representative. Areas of oversight:
 EHS institutional policy development
 Design and delivery of training and development
of social marketing outreach programs
 Industrial hygiene and occupational safety
 Hazardous materials emergency response
 Laboratory safety, inspection and audit program
(policy and regulatory compliance)
 Construction design and code review
 Campus environmental compliance assurance
 Campus building and laboratory commissioning
and decommissioning
 Research protocol review and risk assessments
 Regulatory agency negotiations.
 Hazardous chemical, pharmaceutical, and
mixed waste management
 Review and provide input on proposed
environmental bills to inform State and Federal
 Respiratory protection program
legislative outcomes.
 Indoor air quality & mold/water intrusion
Director of Environmental Services
January, 2005 – August, 2007
Jefferson County School District, Lakewood, CO
Manage staff of ten employees and $870,000 budget (indirectly affecting $1 million+ in utilities*) supporting the
following District-wide programs:
 Environmental regulatory compliance programming (policies and program development, NPDES and air
permit management, RCRA compliance, environmental contracts and consultant management, District
liaison to regulatory agencies including negotiations)
 Manage permitting and operations for seven water and two wastewater plants (*utilities)
 District adherence to Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
 Hazardous materials and waste management (including bio-hazardous and paramedical waste) and
hazardous materials response.
 Storm water management program implementation (21+ MS4 permits)
 Environmental health (assessments, abatement and exposure controls for mold, radon, lead paint, lead
and copper in water, and laboratory and construction related chemicals; indoor air quality assessments and
related exposure controls; school lab safety procedures; zoonotic disease exposure control and vector
monitoring;; develop training and outreach on related topics, including website development.)
 Review building design and construction plans for adherence to environmental health standards of care.
 Review and provide input on proposed bills related to environmental health affecting K-12.
 Fire extinguisher management, refilling and maintenance program. Extinguisher safety training.
Director of Environmental Health & Safety
September, 1997 – January, 2005
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
Establish the Environmental Health and Safety Department. Implement campus-wide hazardous waste
management procedures and use of centralized intranet-based chemical inventory system. Facilitate campuswide multi-media risk assessment. Secured funding and implemented a web-based Asbestos Management
system and inventory (including survey of all ACM campus-wide). Serve as university representative to state
and community emergency response and planning committees and agencies. 1997 & 2003 Pretreatment
Program Compliance Award and 2003 C.L.E.A.N. award recipient for innovative water protection program (City
of Greeley). Honored by State Risk Management for chemical reduction program, 2001. Developed an
ergonomics assessment program and an on-site repetitive motion injury treatment program. Responsible for:
 Staff and budget management
 Lab safety, biosafety & research protocol review
 Environmental compliance programs
 EH&S training programs & website development
 Hazardous waste & materials management
 Occupational safety
 Site inspections/compliance audits
 Life safety & building code review
 Institutional EH&S policy development
 Review of related proposed legislation
 Indoor air quality
 Emergency planning design & review
 Environmental permit administration (air/water)
 RFP development and contracts management
Christina M. Aguilera
Intern (Air Quality Advanced Planning Division Assistant)
Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department, Las Vegas, NV
November, 1995 - August, 1996
Prepared the State Implementation Plan inventory for particulate matter and assisted the submittal of milestones
and extensions for carbon monoxide. Conduct or develop:
 Regulatory research
 Informational pamphlets & newsletter articles for
public dissemination
 Review & summary of proposed EPA rules
 Air data processing (ARCInfo and aerial imagery)  County representative for Air Quality Advisory & Ad
Hoc Committee
Technician (Environmental Specialist)
Kleinfelder, Inc., Las Vegas, NV
October, 1992 - March, 1995
Field technician and/or project manager for County and corporate environmental contracts. Project manager for
regional LUST projects for large corporate customer. Conduct, assist, or develop:
 Contaminant characterization
 Review contractor health & safety plans
 Soil & groundwater remediation oversight
 Landfill feasibility & impact study
 Work plan development
 Phase I & II site assessments
 Site monitoring & closure reports/requests
 New client contact & proposal writing
 Field sampling (soil vapor, water, soil)
Technical Support
EG&G Energy Measurements, Inc., Las Vegas, NV
July, 1979 - April 1982 and April, 1987 - July, 1992
Support the National Weapons Test Program and Remote Sensing divisions. Participated as a Nuclear
Emergency Search Team member for DOE (first responder preparation for radiological incidents). Maintained a
DOE Q clearance. Responsible for:
 QA/QC of chemical processes
 Lab compliance to health and safety standards
 Photographic documentation
 Aerial data acquisition (remote sensing)
Technician (Associate Scientist)
Lockheed-EMSCO, Las Vegas, NV
September, 1982 - April, 1987
Participated in environmental field sampling and monitoring operations. Worked in the inorganic laboratory as a
laboratory technician and assistant analyst for the EPA National Surface Water Survey (acid “rain” deposition
survey). Previous to this worked as aerial photographic laboratory technician.
APPOINTMENTS
State of Colorado, Denver, CO
Hazardous Waste Commission
August 2002 - 2009
Served two terms (>6 years) on Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission responsible for hazardous waste rulemaking in Colorado.
EDUCATION
 Doctor of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver – anticipated 2017
Community and Behavioral Health, Focus: Environmental and Occupational Health
 Master of Public Health, University of Northern Colorado
Focus: Environmental Health - Emergency Planning
 Bachelors in Environmental Studies, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Cum Laude
Focus: Environmental Compliance Management
 Associates in Electronics Engineering Technology, Clark County Community College, N Las Vegas, NV
CERTIFICATIONS
 Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) - #13415 current
 OSHA 40-Hour HazWOper certification (1992 & 2004 - current)
LANGUAGES
English (fluent) and Spanish (fluent verbal, non-technical reading, novice writing skills)
Christina M. Aguilera
COMPUTER SKILLS
 MS Office 2013 (Access-basic, Word, Excel,
Powerpoint, Outlook, Publisher, Visio)
 HR/Fin/Facilities: PeopleSoft, Skillsoft,
Maximo, Cognos
 Photoshop7 & CS3
 Acrobat PDF Distiller/Writer
 Web development: Sharepoint, Dreamweaver,
Frontpage
 Various specialized databases (Vertere, Chim5,
Onsite EHS Assistant)
ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMITTEE WORK
 American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) 181174 – member/ Education Committee
 Institute of Hazardous Materials Management 13415 – member/CHMM
 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Colorado work group for pandemic influenza
planning (developed guidelines for educational institutes).
 Colorado Stormwater Council (CSC) - previous
 Campus Safety & Environmental Management Association – Chair, publications committee
 National Environmental Health Association 67319 - inactive
 Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC-Weld County) - past
 City of Greeley Emergency Response Planning Group - past
 Exempt Professional Assembly officer/member at large, 2009-11 - UC Denver
 Professional Administrative Staff Council (PASC) – Chair 02-03 – University of Northern Colorado
 Colorado Hazardous Waste Management Society - Denver, Colorado - past
 Golden Key National Honor Society - University of Nevada Las Vegas – member
RECENT PRESENTATONS
Chasing our tails: A study in building and people dynamics - presented at the American Industrial Hygiene
Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter and Colorado Chapter of the American Safety Society of Safety
Engineers – Fall Technical Conference on 9/17/2014 in Arvada, Colorado.
Occupational Safety in the Veterinary Sciences – presented at the Colorado School of Public Health 2014 Public
Health Forum on 5/9/2014 in Aurora, Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Anatomy of a Renovation - presented at the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management
Association Conference on 7/17/2012 and at the American Industrial Hygiene Association Rocky Mountain
Chapter and Colorado Chapter of the American Safety Society of Safety Engineers Fall Technical Conference
on 9/25/2012 in Arvada, Colorado.
CURRENT RESEARCH
Grant award 2012/14 - NIOSH Pilot Projects in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety. Conduct
needs assessment and implement survey tools to inform the development of training and outreach projects
aimed at improving the occupational health of veterinary healthcare workers regionally. Administered national
worker assessment survey (N=1632).
POSTERS
Veterinary Healthcare Workers Occupational Exposures, Mountain and Plains Education and Research Center
Conference. April 2013.
Worksite Physical Activity and Health Promotion Programs: Theoretical Frameworks for Intervention and
Assessment, Public Health Student Conference, University of Northern Colorado. October 2003.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Cum Laude, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1996
Dean’s List, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1995, 1996
Director’s List, Environmental Studies, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1995, 1996
Outstanding Intern Award, Environmental Studies, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1995-1996
Golden Key National Honor Society, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1995
Christina M. Aguilera
HIGHLIGHTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
- Advocated for commitment of over two million dollars in renovation dollars to modify engineering controls for
the improvement of occupant and student health in two buildings where assessments uncovered building
design and construction failures. Example: renovation of Anatomical Board embalming labs, specimen
preparation room for teaching labs, and gross anatomy classrooms on two campuses leading to ~70%
reduction of formaldehyde exposure levels.
- Re-structured the laboratory auditing program to provide comprehensive multi-discipline inspections and
obtain fiscal support to upgrade technician positions to professional level staff.
- Implement fee for service structure for hazardous waste management and consulting services provided to
external clients and internal customers that are not part of academic or sponsored programs.
- Institute a waste solvent recovery and resale program for laboratory organic solvent waste.
- Implement asbestos in soils state-approved work plan for the Anschutz Medical Campus. Participated in
stakeholder work group with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to review asbestos
in soils guidance and solid waste regulations for Colorado.
- Assisted the development of an institutional occupational health program housed in the EHS department
including developing draft business plan and recommended budget. Participated in hiring medical staff.
Develop procedures and forms for formaldehyde and respirator use medical surveillance. Developed
exposure/hazard-based annual screening criteria for EHS staff.
- Implement a hearing conservation program for Facilities Management and animal care staff that includes
annual audiograms and training.
- Participated in the justification process for LEEDS gold designation for Pharmacy Research building.
- Completed Department of Homeland Security vulnerability assessment for institution in compliance with the
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).
- Develop a building commissioning process for control of lead and copper levels in drinking water (low
chloride disinfection criteria and pre-occupancy protocol for waterline flushing). Conduct literature review of
health effects of copper exposures to assist outreach efforts to Anschutz Medical Campus occupants.
- Participate in (or act as lead representative during) regulatory inspections by CDC, DOT, CDPHE, Metro
Wastewater District, and various accreditation boards.
Jefferson County School District, Lakewood, CO
- Proactive health promotion that contributed to changes in building materials specification and building air
system design for modular structures as well as chemical storage practices. Justify changes using recent
research correlating modular structures used in K-12 with childhood upper respiratory illness. Changes
made were aimed at reducing sources of indoor contaminants and improving area ventilation.
- Liaison to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for influenza pandemic planning
workgroup.
- Negotiations with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to grandfather a previously
unrecognized wastewater management process that is not permitted under current regulations.
Researched regulatory communications and worked with engineering consultants and District legal
representatives to prepare appeal (outcome: practice on-going).
- Abatement of small stream due to a release of cleaning chemicals by a maintenance contractor. Negotiated
end to clean up operations with City of Golden and City of Lakewood storm water representatives.
- Provide assessment of suspected correlation between retired employee cancer incidences and potential
workplace exposures (including lead, asbestos, radon - necessitating historic records review of past
contaminant control practices and sampling). Result: Comparisons of incidences and type of cancers
reported were consistent with community and state cancer occurrences and types. Reported cancer types
were not known or suspected to result from exposures to the suspected contaminants within the worksite.
- Conduct literature research on long term and short term health effects of fluoride ingestion. Secure funding
for installation of prototype fluoride filtration system for water treatment plant. Provide outreach to parents
regarding perceived risks and benefits.
- Participate in public meetings with CDOT, CDPHE, and City of Golden community members and parents to
inform the Environmental Impact Statement assessment process for proposed Northwest Corridor
transportation project.
Christina M. Aguilera
University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
- Obtained grant funding from Department of Homeland Security for purchase of emergency response
equipment for biological and chemical incident response.
- Developed sewer disposal guidelines and an award winning compliance, spill response, outreach and
training program.
- Managed multiple abatement contracts such as decontamination of Arts building contaminated with
radioactive materials, leaking underground fuel storage tanks and heating oil tanks, asbestos containing
building materials and debris, and solvent spills.
- Establish and manage Wellness Program that included campus-wide activity contest (utilizing step monitors,
find activity partner finder database, bike to work points, awards and ceremony), wellness website, and
annual Wellness Conference for students and employees.
- Wrote the institution’s Point of Distribution (POD) plan for mass vaccination/prophylaxis distribution, working
with Weld County Health Department as well as local and regional emergency planning agencies.
Christina M. Aguilera
CHRISTINA M. AGUILERA
REFERENCES
Therese Stinnett
Biosafety Officer (retired)
University of Colorado Denver | AMC
Co-worker: UC AMC
Denise Donnelly
Associate Biosafety Officer
University of Colorado Denver | AMC
Co-worker: UC AMC
Jerman Lopez
Hazardous Materials Manager
University of Colorado Denver | AMC
Co-worker/past employee: UC AMC
Heidi Oliver
Finance and Contracts Manager
Associate: Jeffco Schools
Michele Nelson
District Photographer
Personal Reference