For the past eight years, Jeremiah Unger has worked for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) as an Environmental Program Manager. Jeremiah focuses on water quality from roadway run-off. He is an active member of the Colorado Stormwater Council where he has created two committees from scratch and is currently the chair of the Post-Construction Committee. This committee focuses on stormwater treatment facilities that permanently treat stormwater run-off. Jeremiah is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for the Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority.

He is also a member of the E64 committee on Stormwater Control Measures of the American Standards and Testing Methodology (ASTM). Jeremiah teaches classes for the Colorado Stormwater Center and the Colorado Local Technical Assistance Program (CLTAP) to maintenance personnel regarding stormwater quality. He has been an active Board member and President of his homeowner’s association for the past 10 years. 

Jeremiah also enjoys his role as husband for 20+ years and father to his brilliant daughter, who is currently at the Colorado School of Mines. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in public service? 

The reliability of work and paycheck. 

What has been most meaningful to you about your career?   

A lot of folks do their part to help the environment; I get to go to work every day and see the data that is quantifiable regarding the impact the teams I work on have on stormwater quality. I have a unique perspective as well, I worked full-time throughout my academic career starting from the lowest point with the public sector. I can confidently say I have personally removed hundreds of thousands of tons of sediment and trash from entering our waterways over my career from the joystick of a machine to the policies, procedures and training I have provided. That makes my chest fill with pride. 

What part of your education at the School of Public Affairs has had the greatest impact on your work?  

Increasing my empathy. As a cancer survivor, you hear perspectives that are sometimes not that meaningful in the grand scheme of life and the act of surviving. This caused me to lose my empathy and understanding of perspective. The three years I spent in the MPA program helped me to increase my empathy and see the world in a broader perspective. 

What is your favorite memory of the School of Public Affairs?  

Washington D.C. with Dr. Crow. Hands down. 

Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenges that your field faces?  

Funding. It may sound like a cliché, but funding the ever-increasing number of treatment facility maintenance is going to be the struggle for the horizon of my career. 

What advice would you give to current students and professional development program participants at the School of Public Affairs?

Cherish the time you spend with your fellow students. It will be over before you know it. Go to dinner during Rocky, go to lunch after class, grab a coffee before a group session, take advantage of travel and work experience.