In this episode of sh(e)=mc2 we meet Abigail Hendershott of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Abigail leads the team tasked with cleaning-up Michigan’s largest PFAS site as Executive Director of MPART.  Abigail shares her experience in leadership and the power of knowing your strengths and the importance of creating a team of who is not only skilled, but also happy.  

Abigail is excited to share her knowledge and connect with other science leaders to work to protect public health, as Abigail states, “It’s a great time to be in science.” Abigail graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Resource Development and Environmental Science. 

She has more than 25 years of project management experience for complex environmental remediation projects. PFAS are fluorinated organic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” because they are persistent and bioaccumulate. Persistent means they do not break down in the environment and bioaccumulate refers to the process of building up over time in the blood and organs. Scientists and health professionals are concerned about PFAS because the chemicals are widespread in the environment, persist for long periods, and have been linked with human and natural resource health problems.

MPART is a multi-agency task force charged with investigating PFAS contamination, overseeing clean-up and other response activities aimed at protecting Michigan’s drinking water. Abigail shares her experience in leadership and the power of knowing your strengths and the importance of creating a team of who is not only skilled, but also happy.  

This episode is part of Season 1 our new podcast, sh(e)=mc2, which celebrates the energy, light, and power created by women leaders in science.  The podcast is now available for listening on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart, and other platforms.

We share inspiring stories in our first season of sh(e) = mc2. We are connecting with amazing women who have risen to the tops of their fields and profession and are now motivating a younger generation to not shy away from the sciences, but rather feel empowered and confident to pursue a career in science.  The podcast is hosted by Maya Murshak, the CEO of Merit Laboratories, a woman-owned business specializing in scientific laboratory testing, and produced by Heidi Komar of BlueOpps.  

Season 1 of sh(e)=mc2 is sponsored by Agilent Technologies. Agilent is a leader in life sciences advancing quality of life through people, products, planet, and prosperity. Agilent Technologies is a global leader in the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets, delivering insight and innovation toward advancing the quality of life. Agilent’s full range of solutions includes instruments, software, services, and expertise that provide trusted answers to our customers' most challenging questions. Learn more at www.agilent.com. 

Merit Laboratories is one of the nation’s leading environmental testing laboratories, analyzing soil, wastewater, groundwater, drinking water, and other sample matrices for a diverse range of analytical parameters.