Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta

Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta served at EPA from 1981-2021. From 2017-2021, she served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of Research and Development and EPA’s Science Advisor. She began with EPA as a student intern conducting research on the potential health effects of drinking water contaminants. Over the course of her career, Jennifer worked in the Office of Toxic Substances and Office of Water in the areas of human health and ecological research, risk assessment, policy and regulation development, strategic planning, and program
implementation. As EPA’s Science Advisor, Jennifer Chaired the Agency’s Science and Technology Policy Council and worked to refocus the Risk Assessment Forum. In 2008, she served as the President of the Society of Toxicology’s Risk Assessment Specialty Section. In 2021, Jennifer received EPA’s Distinguished Career Service Award as well as a Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award.

Dr. Orme-Zavaleta received her B.A. in Zoology from Ohio Wesleyan University, an M.S. in Zoology and Toxicology from Miami University, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science with a minor in Public Health from Oregon State University. Jennifer and her husband David live in Durham, NC.