Recent graduate Hanan Osman finds career in environmental health and safety

In high school Hanan Osman (’17, Environmental Studies) set her sights on an environmental career when she initiated a campaign to reduce water consumption at her local mosque. At UW Bothell, she stayed true to this path and pursued student employment as a way of supporting and immersing herself in campus life. For three years, Hanan worked as a peer study abroad advisor, providing students assistance around study abroad opportunities and scholarships. She also became involved in several clubs, such as Black Student Union and Muslim Student Association, and in her senior year, she and several peers established a National Society of Black Engineers chapter at UW Bothell. Additionally, Hanan conducted an internship with Washington Environmental Council and participated in a study abroad program to Oman and Qatar to examine economic development and business trends.

Hanan’s cross-disciplinary, experiential approach to her education influenced her career direction. Choosing Environmental Studies enabled her to act critically and creatively in response to today’s environmental challenges. Knowing that companies and corporations are the greatest polluters, Hanan turned her focus to environmental health and safety. This new passion led her to a National Society of Black Engineers convention in Kansas City, Missouri, where she connected with United Technologies and now works as an environmental health and safety specialist. In her current role, Hanan implements safety programs, inspects and evaluates the environment, and ensures the business as a whole is in compliance with the EPA, industry standards, and safety regulations.

Hanan urges current students to view student services and extra-curricular opportunities as integral to their education and career development. "Be sure to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, because the thing with opportunities is that they sometimes come to you in a form different than expected. Don’t ever let a chance pass by, as it may manifest itself later to be exactly what you dreamed of.”