DC EcoWomen Board Spotlight: Bria Jamison

In this Spotlight, we interview Bria Jamison, who is currently the Vice President, Professional Development and Programs for DC EcoWomen.

Bria Jamison in front of the U.S. Capitol

1. What inspired you to join the Board?

The first DC EcoWomen (DCEW) event I attended was a Galentine’s Speed Dating event. I loved how the organization brought together like-minded women in an inviting space and wanted to get involved. I felt my experience in professional development and network in the federal government, particularly STEM, would work well to support DCEW’s mission.

2. Can you describe your work with the board? How can community members contribute to this work?

As VP of Professional Development (PD) and Programs, I lead the coordination of DCEW’s events. Programs events are the more social side of our organization, while PD has an eye toward career growth and networking. Before stepping into the VP role, I sat on the PD committee, planning EcoHours, Mentor Dinners, and other events like Sustainable Sips, where we chatted about careers in sustainable winemaking with a certified sommelier.

Community members can absolutely support this work by joining our events and being active participants. What makes DCEW so great is the excitement and earnest involvement of our community. Asking questions, networking with other attendees - its what makes our events impactful. I’m also always interested in hearing new event ideas, so feel free to email me.

3. Which environmental issues are you most passionate about and why?

Through a fellowship at the U.S. Department of Energy, I was immersed in issues of the water-energy nexus. Not only does society depend on these resources in every aspect of modern life, but they’re highly interconnected. It takes lots of energy to move and clean water, and it takes lots of water to provide energy. Balancing those relationships is becoming increasingly important.

Bria (left) moderating a DCEW panel about cross-sector career pivots

4. What are your favorite green living tips?

Make your freezer your best friend. It’s so easy to avoid food waste when you prepare food in such a way that components can be frozen and pulled into meals later. Lemons going bad? Juice and freeze them. Only need a tablespoon from that can of tomato paste? Freeze the rest. It’s also a pro-tip if you want more variety in your weekly meals or have a lazy day.

5. What do you focus on in your day job?

I’m an environmental engineer doing water treatment for data centers. Anything hanging out in the cloud, not just artificial intelligence applications, has to be stored in a data center. All of those computers and electrical equipment generate massive amounts of heat and need to be kept cool to work properly (like how that little fan in your laptop gets loud when you have too many tabs open). The majority of data center cooling systems rely on water, and my job is to maintain the quality of that water so those systems run safely and efficiently.

Bria (center) leading a professional development workshop applying game design principles to water policy issues

6. What are your favorite things to do outside work?

I love live music (big ear plugs girly). DC has an incredible music scene and is also the perfect city for small/medium-sized artists. The Pocket and 9:30 Club are gems. I also love to mix cocktails. You can bet I’ll have a signature mezcal drink when I host.

7. Do you have any favorite books or films that focus on environmental issues?

The Parable Series by Octavia Butler is a favorite. I love how Butler positions the story’s central social conflict as a result of climate change and environmental degradation. The series also highlights the intersection of environmental and social injustices, where environmental issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

8. How can people connect with you?

My DCEW email is the best way to contact me, but you can also find me on LinkedIn. Be sure to mention the DCEW connection!