Faculty & Staff

Dr. Sharon D'Orsie (Dr. D.)

Sharon received her B.S. in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh before beginning studies at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. There she earned a Master of Science in Hygiene in Water Supply and Pollution Control, and a Doctor of Science in Hygiene in Environmental Health. Fortunately, she was able to fund graduate school through the Environmental Protection Agency after writing a compelling essay on why she wanted a career in sewage treatment.

A move to Texas followed because ã Texas had jobs and I needed one.ä Sharon spent fifteen years working for a major oil corporation, working in staff and supervisory roles involving safety and environmental engineering and industrial hygiene. Her dream in graduate school, however, was to have a consulting practice; she started a company specializing in industrial hygiene, safety, and air monitoring. Along the way she earned the designations of Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional. After about ten years she merged the company into a London based consultancy, and spent two years as a partner melding the organizations. It was time to follow another dream.

Sharon decided she wanted spend the ãthird-thirdä of her career teaching. She earned a Master of Education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston . When her last child went off to college, Sharon packed up, left Texas , moved to Maine and started teaching at the University of Southern Maine . She loves Maine , however, finds it difficult to add to her collection of Flamingo memorabilia since all the shops here sell bear and moose.

Sharon has been on the faculty of the Department of Environmental Science since 2002.

Sc.D. (Hyg.) Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health University of Pittsburgh, 1974
M.S. (Hyg.) Water Supply and Pollution Control, Graduate School of Public Health
University of Pittsburgh, 1970 M.Ed. Education, University of St. Thomas 2002
B.S. Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 1969

• ESH 211 Fire Safety
• ESH 331 Applied Toxicology and associated lab
• ESH 332 Industrial Hygiene and associated lab
• ESH 342 Safety and Risk Management
• ESH 450 Hazardous Waste and Pollution Control
• ESP 101 Fundamentals of Environmental Science Lecture
• ESP 101 Fundamentals of Environmental Science Lab
• ESP 280 Research Methods

Identification and quantification of trace amounts of asthma triggers in the indoor and outdoor environment.

D'Orsie, S.M., etal. (2005). Considerations for Prospective E-learners. The Synergist, 16(8), 43-46.

D'Orsie, S.M., (2004). Consulting Tips from An Unexpected Source. The Synergist, 15(10), 32-35.

D'Orsie, S.M., (2004). Leadership Without Authority. Professional Safety, 49(8), 32-35.

Email: smdorsie@usm.maine.edu