50 Years of Environmental Studies: From Students to Changemakers

Our Panelists:

Bob Rich '89 is the Founder and President of ROAR Logistics, a Buffalo based logistics company that lives up to its name by delivering world-class service by Rail, Ocean, Air or Road (ROAR). Prior to founding ROAR with 3 associates in 2003, Bob held a series of positions with increasing responsibilities at both Rich’s (his family’s business) and other logistics companies. ROAR has enjoyed rapid growth and now has 8 locations within the USA. Bob gives all the credit to the ROAR team and the culture they have created. Bob earned a BS in Environmental Psychology from St. Lawrence University and an MBA from the Richard J. Wehle School of Business, Canisius College. When he is not busy leading the charge at ROAR, Bob is a family man who has diverse interests including acting, music, and volunteering in the Buffalo community.

Jeff Deyette ’95, is Clean Energy Director within the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national nonprofit organization that calls for science-based policy solutions to our world’s most pressing problems. Working at UCS since 1999, Jeff built his career conducting economic and environmental analyses and advocating for policies to accelerate the transition toward a clean and equitable energy economy. While at St. Lawrence, Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in environmental studies and government, was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and participated in the Washington, DC, semester at American University. He went on to receive a master’s degree from Boston University in energy resource management and international relations. Jeff is a member of the SLU Alumni Executive Council and as an alumnus has enjoyed working directly with students for many years, including serving as a LINC mentor and meeting with both SLU Connect and sustainability program participants. He currently lives in Watertown, MA, with his wife, Heather Tuttle, and their young son, Henry.

Ali Hiple '15 is a Senior Policy Analyst working with the Conservation Law Foundation, a nonprofit that uses the law, science, and the market to protect New England’s environment for the benefit of all people. Her work focuses on climate resilience, transportation, and environmental justice issues and includes a mix of lobbying, policy research, community engagement, and GIS. Before joining CLF Ali worked for the City of Medford’s Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability. Prior to that, she spent four years at the Trust for Public Land where she worked as an urban park researcher and consultant, providing support for city park systems around the country. Ali holds an MS in Environmental Policy and Planning and a Certificate in GIS from Tufts University, and a BA in Environmental Studies and English from St. Lawrence University. She lives in Boston and spends her time rock climbing, seeing live music with friends, or coaxing veggies from her tiny community garden plot. 

Jennifer Evans '19 currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer with Climate Cardinals. She holds a Master of Arts in Climate and Society from the inaugural class of the Columbia University Climate School and is an alumna of St. Lawrence University, majoring in Environmental Studies and Sociology. Her passion for climate justice and equity has been the main focus of her work throughout her academics and at her previous roles with the USDA Northeast Climate Hub and the Center for Climate Systems Research at Columbia University and NASA GISS. Outside of the climate world Jen coaches alpine ski-racing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and also enjoys hiking and biking in Grand Teton National Park. 

Maddie Cring '21 is an Environmental Communications Specialist at ERG with over three years of experience working in the public sector. Upon graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2021, she began her career as a Tribal Waste Management Fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. In this role, Maddie worked with Tribes to streamline their waste management process. Following her fellowship, Maddie joined ERG as an Environmental Analyst on the Clean Transportation team. In this role, she helped school districts and government agencies across the country electrify their fleets. Currently, Maddie leads communications and marketing efforts for clean transportation and waste management projects, creating strategies for projects such as EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Recycle Smart MA initiative. 

Alyssa Watson '21 is a Senior Associate at ADL Ventures with expertise in scaling innovative building decarbonization and electrification solutions. Alyssa has led high-impact projects for both public and private industry clients, specializing in go-to-market strategies, regulatory incentives, business models, and corporate <> startup partnerships to deploy high-impact climate technology solutions and build resilient, decarbonized markets. Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Biology from St. Lawrence University and leverages her interdisciplinary skill set beyond her technical work. She is the current chairwoman of ADL Ventures' Leadership Advisory Team and has designed and implemented mentorship and professional development programs to support early-stage career growth.

Thanks to the support of the Advancement Office.

To attend, please register here: Celebrate 50 Years of Environmental Studies.