“The dual Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in Sociology program illuminated many critical connections of government and society that have prepared me with knowledge, skills and confidence to increase my contributions in public service. The faculty and staff are inspiring and incredibly supportive, and the diversity of my peers provided a compelling and dynamic learning environment.”

Neah Downs Dybas is a MPA and MA Sociology graduate of UCCS with a BA in environmental geography from the University of Kansas. She now combines her early field studies in climate change with her masters focus on community dimensions of climate policy and programs as an energy and environmental justice researcher. During her graduate program she was an intern for the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) lab, where she co-wrote a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation report on equity and energy justice-related metric development for state level electric vehicle infrastructure. She also supported a national DOE program in the implementation of clean transportation planning with and for underserved communities. Now as a researcher for NREL, she continues to focus on supporting communities most vulnerable to climate change. Living in Colorado Springs she and her husband enjoy time in the mountains skiing, hiking and rock climbing, especially when any of their three young adult sons join them, but mostly these days it is only the dog who puts up with them.