Flagstaff Sustainability Division staff member Tia to leave for NAU graduate program; commission plans transition support

Tia, a sustainability staff member with Flagstaff City, told the Sustainability Commission she will leave her city position mid‑summer to pursue a master’s degree in environmental sciences and policy at Northern Arizona University.

"My announcement is that I am going to grad school ... to Northern Arizona University," Tia said at the meeting. She said she received a teaching assistantship with tuition waiver and health insurance and described the program as a two‑year master’s.

Commissioners and staff responded with congratulations and described plans for a transition. Staff said the position will be posted in the next two to three weeks and that the division hopes to overlap a new hire with Tia’s departure so she can help train a successor. Nicole, a Sustainability Division staff member, invited commissioners to participate on interview panels.

"We wanna try to get as close to Tia's departure as possible, even if we can overfill, which means that Tia would be available to help train," a staff member said. Commissioners thanked Tia for her work and discussed planning a farewell and continuity for the division’s initiatives.

Why it matters: Tia is the staff contact for several commission initiatives and neighborhood grant work; staff said filling the role and ensuring a smooth handover is a priority to keep ongoing projects on track.

What’s next: staff will post the position, solicit applicants, and consider commissioner participation on interview panels; the commission discussed a possible farewell event and continuity planning ahead of the mid‑summer departure.