Marc Marquis describes himself as a “self-motivated, accountability driven public health manager” with a background in water and wastewater, solid waste, hazardous materials, and air quality.

He obtained much of his technical knowledge from the department’s undergraduate program, plus two years of on-the-ground work with the Environ-mental Protection Agency in the Territory of American Samoa. Since 2004, he has managed the environ-mental health programs for the Chelan-Douglas Health District in Wenatchee.

After graduating from UW, he enrolled in Seattle University’s law school, focusing on environmental and administrative law. His degrees and experience provide the tools he needs to protect the public and help his community achieve its environmental goals.

As director of environmental health programs in the two central Washington counties, his responsibilities include land use, water and wastewater, solid waste, residential hazardous materials, food service, vector control, and community safety. He is responsible for a $2.1 million budget.

He says he finds two aspects of his job particularly compelling. The first is the sense of accomplishment he derives from providing a necessary public service. “It really makes me feel good to know I’m working to protect our community vs. selling used cars or something.” The second is the diverse nature of his work. “I’m not the type of person who likes to focus on one subject area. My job challenges me to be knowledgeable about topics ranging from food service to wastewater treatment to toxicology.”

He studied with Chuck Treser. An undergraduate course in public health law spurred his decision to go to law school. He obtained his Registered Environmental Health Specialist credentials while attending law school, with a goal of using his combined legal training and technical knowledge in a future leadership capacity for public health.

The summer after law school, while he was studying for the bar exam, he took a seasonal job with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. When summer ended, he was offered a permanent management position heading the methadone treatment program. Although he enjoyed seeing the personal health side of public health, his goal was always environmental health management.

He accepted an unexpected opportunity to work for the EPA in American Samoa. There he managed programs including solid waste, hazardous materials, air quality, pesticides, and underground storage tanks. The United Nations invited him to Nairobi, Kenya, to do a presentation concerning the state of environmental law in American Samoa.

“Although living conditions in Samoa were challenging at times for my family, we all benefited greatly from the cultural experience,” he said. After completing his two-year employment contract with the EPA, he accepted his current position with the Chelan-Douglas Health District.

“I think I have an advantage because my diverse experience has enabled me to better understand the comprehensive mission of public health and how the programs interrelate,” he said. He encourages current undergraduate students not to shy away from the tough science classes, because they help to develop critical thinking skills. The breadth of the undergraduate program prepares students for public and private sector employment opportunities in the areas of environmental science, regulatory consulting, industrial hygiene, solid and hazardous waste management, food safety, and other fields, he said. “Your opportunities are only limited by how creatively you can market your skills.”

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