Caila Cater-Edwards, PEA’s Clean Energy Intern, interviewing Dr. Shaleen Miller, Director of Sustainability and Intergovernmental Affairs for The City of Winston-Salem. Dr. Miller's work spans fleet electrification, natural landscape policies, and active transportation, and she is also a dedicated educator in environmental studies. Driven by a passion for resilience, public engagement, and equitable community development, Dr. Miller works to empower others to create meaningful change—from local government to grassroots action.
Dr. Miller will be at PEA's Green Job Fair on Wednesday, September 17th as a green career mentor. Join us so you can chat 1:1 with Dr. Miller and other green sector leaders. Admission is free and you can RSVP here.
CCE: Hi Shaleen Miller, thank you so much for taking some time to discuss some of the work you are doing for the City of Winston Salem as the Director of Sustainability and Intergovernmental Affairs. Your path, from earning a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning to becoming an educator in Environment and Sustainability, is truly impressive. Can you tell us about your journey into this field? What inspired you to focus on the intersection of sustainability, urban planning, and policy, and how did your past experiences shape the work you're doing today?
SM: Early in my career, I worked in the oil and gas industry. That gave me first-hand experience with the way long-term thinking was overlooked. I began to think about how organizations can balance performance with responsibility. Rather than becoming cynical, I became part of the solution.
I became an urban planner after several years of volunteering for my city’s boards and commissions, as well as the heritage foundation. Urban planning fascinated me because everyone interacts with the built environment, whether they realize it or not. Cities shape our lives–from the moment you walk out the door. Do you walk/bike/bus/drive? That choice is shaped by the urban space. Do you have trees and greenspace? Is your area prone to flooding or adjacent to a polluted area? All of this is urban planning. To me urban planning is one of the best ways to think and plan for sustainability because it affects so many aspects of the environment.
My focus in urban planning lay in the cross section of human health and wellness and the environment. Living through multiple hurricanes, I gravitated to the idea of resilience. Therefore, my work is not just sustainability, but helping prepare for the challenges ahead while improving the quality of life now.
I continue teaching because working with the community and working with students is my source of hope. Having a group that wants to learn more, wants to step forward and move the world towards a healthier environment is inspiring me to keep going.
CCE: It’s fascinating to hear how you started in the oil and gas industry but I love how you switched your narrative, something I am sure many individuals can relate to in some capacity. You mentioned becoming part of the solution by transitioning into urban planning with a focus on resilience, human health, and the environment. Could you share some specific initiatives or projects you've implemented that reflect this approach to sustainable and resilient urban planning?
SM: Sure, I will give you an example from each of the categories. In research, I’m proud of the paper I published on local and creative financing of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (A multiple case study of local & creative financing of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure - ScienceDirect). This study looked at how governments and agencies were financing additional active transportation modes. It was cited as impactful by the CDC and by the European Commission. With teaching, I have tried to involve students in projects that they can get real-life experience, such as working on a tree canopy analysis for Greensboro. And here in Winston-Salem, I am working across departments. I work with fleet and the departments driving vehicles to assist with the transition to EVs, I have introduced ordinance updates for natural landscapes and natural parks, and my department is working with vegetation and Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful to move more towards native vegetation and natural landscape practices, such as introducing an industrial steamer as an alternative to herbicides.
CCE: Thank you for sharing that paper and highlighting its global impact—it’s truly inspiring. As someone who calls this city home, it’s incredibly encouraging to see local leaders advocating for positive and sustainable change in Winston-Salem. What advice would you offer to those who want to become more mindful of their impact and get involved in shaping local policy—especially for communities that may not always feel heard?
SM: First, get to know your officials and the structure of government. The first step is understanding how decisions are made. Sign up for newsletters, attend a city council meeting. Build a relationship with your elected officials on different levels. I think a lot of people are scared to make this connection, or they wait until they are angry about something. Building relationships is about understanding one another and finding ways to move in positive directions. Your lived experience is experience. You don’t need to be an expert, just have the desire to make your community better. Being clear and calm go a long way to make a strong and successful argument.
In Winston-Salem, you can apply via the Mayor’s Office to be on a board or advisory committee. You can also speak at the public comment period at City Council once a month. But simply volunteering and being involved in your community can help move things forward. Systems don’t change overnight, but it is possible. It just might take several small steps to one day look back and see how far you’ve come.
CCE: As a younger adult, I personally appreciate this advice. It can feel intimidating at times but reminding myself and others, taking it one step at a time, is vital. Shaleen, thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me! Is there anything else you would like to share or offer to those who may read this through PEA?
SM: There are a lot of ways to work on sustainability. Rather than just looking at a green job, I think we need to ask how we can make other jobs greener. Instead of studying sustainability, how can you work on sustainability through other fields? Consider alternative fields that cross sustainability.
I spoke of sustainability from urban planning, but you can do sustainability via marketing. Reduce the amount of cheap giveaways items being used. You can be in real estate and make energy efficient housing projects. Or use sustainably sourced food materials and compost in a restaurant. A store can switch away from plastic bags. A sustainably focused worker in an office could try to get the vending machine lights turned off or make sure the coffee pods are compostable or recyclable.