Where is home for you, Peter?
I hail from the Great Lakes region, on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. This spring, my wife and I moved from Columbia, South Carolina to Durham. We enjoy North Carolina’s beauty and greenery and look forward to some serious exploring.
Where are you on your higher education path?
With a degree in psychology and background in social work, I spent time working with at-risk teenagers at a boarding school in Texas followed by years working in the South Carolina state and nonprofit sector with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. These experiences, though life changing, were formative in my decision to change my career trajectory. This fall I will attend the Duke Nicholas School to pursue my Masters in Environmental Economics and Policy. I thoroughly enjoy school and look forward to all Duke has to offer (i.e. basketball tickets).
Why did you choose to work in the environmental field?
I grew up on a hobby farm in Wisconsin. We had no TV, but we did have forty acres of wooded hills on a trout stream! I was not raised by wolves but close. I spent as much time as possible roaming the woods with my dog, fishing, and camping. My dad spent over 30 years working for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a hydrologist and is now a research professor at the University of Minnesota and consultant on the side. My mom, a nurse by trade, is an organic gardener and foodie (I joke that I was eating kale years before it was cool).
Not only is working with the environment fun and rewarding, it is also necessary. Many environmental issues (more like consequences) are coming to bear, and I want to be an integral part of the solution.
What are some of your fondest memories of being out in North Carolina’s natural wonders?
I got engaged at Triple Falls a few years back, so that tops the list! My wife, friends, and I have great memories camping and hiking in the mountains near Asheville and Black Mountain, NC. My wife’s family is from Grantham, NC. Last summer we convinced her 87-year-old grandmother to vacation at the Outer Banks where the family spent time on the water and even saw some wild horses. Grandma loved it all!
What are your internship responsibilities this summer with the NC League of Conservation Voters (NCLCV)?
As legislative and political intern, I work closely with Dan Crawford attending legislative sessions, tracking bills, and urging lawmakers to make wise decisions for the environmental future of the state. Some of my responsibilities include publishing the weekly Hotlist and drafting the bulk of the 2015 Legislative Scorecard.
How do you see this opportunity as a Stanback intern affecting your future education and work?
I am blown away by Mr. Fred Stanback’s generosity in funding the annual Stanback Internship Program. He is giving me and many others the opportunity to gain tangible experience necessary for career development and discernment. It is allowing me a look at the inner workings of politics and preparing me for coursework in environmental policy. I look forward to the chance to thank him in person someday.
Interested in learning more about Peter’s work this summer? You can reach him at peter@nclcv.org.
