Mariah Stanley
Educational Services Coordinator
Workforce Development and Educational Services Department

What are the three job ­elements you focus on the most—your primary ­responsibilities?

The following are my main ­responsibilities.

I handle youth outreach and awareness, which includes the Youth Summit, the Garrett Morgan Youth Symposium, and the University Internship/Mentorship Program.

I work on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) efforts and higher education partnerships with schools across the country.

And I’m working with the APTA Human Resources Committee and Higher Education Subcommittee to develop training and best practices for schools, universities, and public transit-related organizations.

Do you have direct contact with APTA members? If so, please talk about the most recent times you’ve helped out a member.

I am in constant contact with APTA members. They call or email me regularly and ask how they can get more involved in our youth and student programs.

For example, I recently worked with one member on logistics and development of a webinar—which was featured in our new HR Committee Webinar series—that spoke to mentorship opportunities and best practices. I have also worked diligently with the chair of the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) Board of Directors on rebranding for the brochure promoting the APTF Fellows program.

I work with the APTF committee on several different initiatives: We just reworked the logo and are developing changes to the website.

APTF maintains its presence at APTA major meetings. This year’s annual golf tournament will be held during the Rail Conference in Montreal, and the Annual Meeting & EXPO schedule will feature a reception to ­recognize scholarship recipients.

What initiatives, ­projects, or programs have you worked on at APTA that you have taken particular pride in completing?

I take much pride in all of APTA’s youth and student outreach initiatives. We recently extended our youth outreach to STEM schools throughout the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, launching an inaugural program with the Edison Academy of Alexandria, VA, in January. We welcomed 198 students to a presentation on the opportunities offered by APTA and the public transit industry.

The Edison Academy offers advanced technical and specialized courses that primarily focus on career fields in the curriculum cluster of international ­studies, business, engineering, or scientific technology. Students who attended the APTA Youth Outreach presentation r­epresent several curriculums: criminal justice, education for employment, Junior ROTC, vehicle technologies, automotive technology, automotive c­ollision services, information technology, landscape architecture, and ­electrical engineering and construction. This ­outreach is very exciting for us!

This year, APTA sponsored a team from Cardozo Middle School in ­Washington to participate in the Mineta Transportation Institute’s ­Garrett A. Morgan Youth Symposium. In the future, we expect to work with another school as well. We invite APTA business members to reach out to schools in their areas, encouraging students to enter this technology competition.

How did you “land” at APTA? How long have you worked here?

I landed at APTA through an internship opportunity at the ­Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and became a full-time employee shortly after I finished my undergraduate degree. I have worked at APTA for more than a year.

Have you held other jobs in the public transportation industry (besides working at APTA)?

Before I came to APTA, I was employed by COMTO for five years, from my senior year in high school through my internship with APTA, funded by FTA, during my senior year of college. I worked primarily with workforce development issues and also researched existing workforce development programs and models from other associations in the industry.

What professional ­affiliations do you have?

I am a member of the COMTO Washington Metropolitan DC Chapter and serve on the committee for the chapter’s “Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation” breakfast event.

Could you tell us something about yourself that might surprise us?

In addition to my employment at APTA, I am a full-time graduate student working toward a master of business administration degree and mom to a 5-year-old boy named Zion.

I bring a wealth of knowledge to the organization with my seven years of experience in the transportation industry, especially working with youth and student programming.

Make sure you see Mariah Stanley's video, now that you've read this!