Lifelong Learning and Continuous Career Development: Dakota’s EMAP Story

By Sofia Rosales, 1/14/2026

As an Environmental Policy Analyst in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation, Dakota DeLong-Maxey (EMAP ’23) works at the intersection of environmental data, regulatory analysis, and air quality policy. Her day to day work involves conducting technical analyses using air quality monitoring data and energy sector datasets, often applying tools such as R and ArcGIS. This analytical work is underlined by collaboration work with colleagues and stakeholders, where findings are discussed and translated into insights that support implementation of the Clean Air Act and other air quality regulations.

DeLong-Maxey was drawn to Georgetown University’s Environmental Metrology and Policy (EMAP) program because of its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary problem solving. “Environmental issues are deeply intertwined with policy, science, public health, and economics, and EMAP provided a framework for engaging with those connections in a meaningful way,” she explains. That integrated approach made the program a natural fit for her interests and career goals.

One of the most valuable outcomes of her EMAP experience was gaining a detailed understanding of the history, structure, and evolution of environmental laws and regulations. “That foundation has been essential for navigating and growing within an environmental career,” she says. In her current role, this regulatory grounding allows her to better assess how data informs policy decisions and how regulatory frameworks shape analytical priorities.

Her training in environmental metrology continues to shape how she approaches data analysis at EPA. “The program made me very mindful of the factors that influence data quality, such as variability and bias,” DeLong-Maxey notes. “That awareness is fundamental when interpreting environmental data, especially when conclusions may influence the structure or evaluation of a regulation.” She emphasizes that precise measurement is critical in air quality policy, where data from federal reference method air monitors plays a central role in informing Clean Air Act analyses and regulatory decisions.

Beyond technical skills, DeLong-Maxey credits EMAP with fostering a conscientious, policy oriented approach to environmental research. “The program influenced not only how I think about environmental issues in my work, but also how I want to approach my career overall,” she says. This perspective has guided her efforts to ensure that scientific analysis is both rigorous and directly applicable to policy development.

Looking ahead, DeLong-Maxey views professional growth as an ongoing process. “Your education doesn’t stop once you graduate and start a career,” she says. “EMAP sets you up well to continue learning and developing well into the future.” She is particularly passionate about improving environmental literacy, noting that public understanding of environmental risks and protections is essential for effective advocacy and long term policy success.

Her advice to current and prospective EMAP students is to take full advantage of the opportunities available both within the program and in Washington, D.C. “There are so many chances to grow as a person and as a researcher beyond your core classes,” she says. “Those experiences are encouraged in EMAP and help make each student’s path through the program unique and empowering.”

If she were speaking to her first semester self, DeLong-Maxey says she would have encouraged herself to explore an even broader range of electives. “Georgetown offers so many opportunities to learn from experts in their fields,” she notes. “Taking advantage of that diversity of perspectives can be incredibly valuable.”

Through her work at EPA, Dakota DeLong-Maxey exemplifies the EMAP program’s commitment to precise measurement, interdisciplinary thinking, and evidence based environmental policy bringing precision and clarity to the data that underpin national air quality regulations.