Hayley earned her BS in Civil Engineering from Pitt in 2017 and an MS in Civil Engineering in 2019. Through MCSI, she pursued research focused on improving the sustainability of the built environment and developed work with real world impact. Gardner now works as a Zero Energy Specialist at the International Living Future Institute, where she provides technical guidance to project teams on energy efficiency and reduction requirements and supports work related to zero carbon guidance for buildings.
In her own words:
After graduation, I began my new job as the Zero Energy Specialist at the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). I'm a part of the Energy Team, and we are working to reduce the operational and embodied impacts of buildings! I work with project teams to provide them technical guidance regarding how they can meet our strict energy efficient and reduction requirements. We are also working on the development of guidance for our new Zero Carbon Program to address embodied carbon impacts.
MCSI provided me a space and support system to pursue research that could be translated into real-life impacts to improve the sustainability of the built environment. Due to academic support I received from MCSI's faculty and staff, I graduated on time and had the pleasure of working on a project I essentially got to build alongside my advisor. The professional support and guidance I received led me to my dream job today. It's obvious that I would not be where I am today without the faculty and staff of the MCSI.