Thomas J. Christopher
ES&P/M.A. '01

1. Please describe your present professional position? Please include the URL of your organization.

I am currently a "Senior Project Manager" at Resource Management, Inc. (RMI) of Holderness, NH and work from a satellite office in Lancaster, MA. I am responsible for project development with new and existing clients seeking land reclamation materials, management services, and environmental analysis for project sites. My specific tasks also include the draft of state and local permit applications for site assignments, coordination with MA-DEP and other environmental agencies, presentations before local municipal boards, and oversight of all project activities throughout project terms. RMI recycles permitted organic residuals from wastewater treatment plants, wood-fired energy facilities, and paper mills into beneficial uses for agriculture, land reclamation, and construction. Our URL is www.RMI-recycles.com.

2. What do you find satisfying about your position?

The opportunities to be creative throughout the course of my work, whether it be the assemblage of technical data and manpower to allow projects to move forward, or the logistics of moving materials from the waste stream into a beneficial use. It is especially gratifying to transform a distressed parcel of land that may be polluting nearby rivers and streams into a grassed meadow that reduces surface runoff, protects groundwater, and develops an enhanced wildlife habitat.

3. How did the ES&P program at Clark University help to prepare you?

From a philosophical perspective the emphasis placed on the environmental and social responsibilities of our "global community" made me realize there was much work to be done in our own local communities. More important however, was the notion that good policy best develops from a balance of good science and sound economics, and communication is essentially the key to allowing this balance to become effective. Clearly the emphasis on developing writing and communication skills has been critical to the success of my present position as I continually move between a science/technical role and public speaking/local permitting role.

4. Why should prospective students enroll in the ES&P program at Clark University?

There are many reasons why students should enroll at Clark, beginning with the opportunity to study under the guidance of the excellent professors and other faculty who bring so much knowledge and experience to Clark. The diversity and focus of its students make the campus a place for serious study, with many opportunities for students to define their interests and build important career skills. Clark builds a global perspective for its students and recognizes their individual ability to make a difference in their world.

5. Did you have an internship as part of your Clark education? If so, how did it help to connect you to your current career?

I came to Clark University as a much older student (age 54) after owning my own company for many years. I knew it would be a difficult transition to work as a full-time professional in the environmental field after I sold my company. The degree from Clark provided an important level of recognition and credibility to the skills I had developed through life-long learning in the field and provided an important balance with new learning experiences that were attractive to prospective employers.

6. What was the topic of your research while at Clark University?

I had been involved in river conservation issues for many years serving on several non-profit boards and this led to an interest in the relicensing of non-federal hydropower dams in the U.S. My research focused on the use of the "Alternative Licensing Process" within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a way to achieve higher levels of environmental mitigation at hydropower facilities in New England. My interest in river resources has since broadened to include efforts to further protect riparian lands as comprehensive strategy.

7. Is there anything else you would like to add?

The time spent at Clark University has been the richest and most rewarding learning experience of my lifetime.