Chad E. Covey ’64
THEN
Hometown/high school: Pearl River, New York / Pearl River High
Major: General Forestry – Forest Management
B.S. Forestry, 1964
Activities while at ESF: R.O.T.C., Coop#2, Forestry Summer Camp, Spring Camp
NOW
Current residence: Hickory, North Carolina
Family: wife of 57 years Judith, son – Bret, daughter – Amy
Career: I was hired in December 1966 as a forester-trainee at the Sherburne forestry field office of the New York State Conservation Department and retired in January 2002 as the Regional Supervisor of Natural Resources for Region 7 of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Hobbies: Birding, lake living (we live on Lake Hickory) and doing my bride’s “honey do” list.
Professional or personal distinctions: During my 35 years with New York state, I received numerous certificates or awards of recognition, especially for service to civic or environmental organizations. I am most honored by the Bronze Star Medal awarded me by the Army for outstanding meritorious service as a combat engineer officer in Vietnam, and the ensuing Conspicuous Service Cross and Conspicuous Service Star from New York State.
My four years of education and training provided a solid baseline for the start of my career whether it was leading night ambush patrols in the jungle of Vietnam or cruising timber in Central New York wood lots. The association with the College over the past 60 years for Judy and me has been very enjoyable and meaningful and one we look back on with considerable appreciation.
Frank Calovini ’84
THEN
Hometown/high school: Niagara Falls, New York/LaSalle Sr. High School
Major: Environmental and Forest Biology
B.S. Forest Biology/1984
Activities while at ESF: Syracuse volleyball, manager of The Blinker, Cranberry Lake-summer 1983.
Degree(s) after ESF: M.S. Occupational Health and Safety, Indiana State University
NOW
Current residence: Cleveland, Ohio
Family: wife, Daune (SU 1985); sons, Frankie and Reece; two old cats, Pumpkin and Olive, and a black Labrador, Cali.
Career: Chemical hygiene officer of the NASA Glenn Research Center as a Leidos Inc. employee for the last 13 years. Previously held positions with environmental laboratories and with EPA methods development contracts.
Hobbies: reading, watching son’s soccer teams, cooking, meeting students as an ESF alumni representative.
Professional or personal distinctions: Chemical hygiene officer (CHO), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Hazardous materials manager (CHMM) certifications.
I’m thankful for ESF’s strong science curriculum as it has enabled me to thrive in a variety of positions in both the environmental and chemistry fields. I’ve found that today’s job market requires not just technical excellence, but also flexibility as we progress through different jobs and careers. Collaboration and the relationships we develop are key. While working with students, I have found that ESF is an exceptional college environmental program, in terms of preparing them for life after school.
David N. Suarez ’91
THEN
Hometown/high school: Solvay, New York / High school: Solvay High School
Major: Landscape Architecture
BLA
Activities while at ESF: I didn’t engage in too many formal activities while at ESF other than doing the schoolwork and working at Riemann-Buechner Partnership part time. That was enough to fill my time!
Awards or honors at ESF: I was one of the recipients of a New York State Professional Opportunity Scholarship which helped integrate more minorities into the landscape architecture profession. Each of my three years at ESF, I met the academic requirements, so I received the scholarship which paid for most of my education. John View at ESF let me know about this opportunity and I have been forever grateful to him!
After ESF: I was eager to re-enter the workforce full time, so I did not continue toward a master’s at ESF or elsewhere as some of my classmates did. After graduation in May of 1991, I worked full time at RBP, then for a Syracuse-based landscape company, and by 1993, I started my own landscape design/b build company in Syracuse. I was Global Landscape, Inc. for the next 25 years until we closed that business in 2018 to move to Greenville, South Carolina, closer to where my parents had resettled years earlier.
NOW
Residence: Greenville, South Carolina
Family: I am here with my wife, Ellen; our dog, Lucinda; and our cat, Lily.
Career: I did not retire when we moved to Greenville in 2018 and I currently enjoy working for the Parks and Grounds Department of the City of Greenville. I just spent two years working as the horticulturalist and facilities maintenance person at the Greenville Zoo and now I am with the Parks Department taking care of city parks. Greenville is a great small city with a widespread park system. We are thoroughly enjoying our time here.
Hobbies: I would have to say my main hobby has always been building gardens, but I also dabble in visual art and framing, as well as travel and hiking whenever possible.
My time at ESF was instrumental in shaping the rest of my career. It turned out I love building gardens, doing the physical work, as well as the design, people and educational aspects of garden work. Twenty-five years went by like nothing. ESF, kind people like George Curry, Bob Reimann, and Robin Hoffman, guided me to where I am and what I was able to accomplish in my life so far. The size of the school and attention and opportunities I was given were exactly what I needed to craft this career, which I am still enjoying. I learn and teach something about the outdoor world every day. And I run into proud ESF alumni everywhere!
Scott LeRoy ’92
THEN
Hometown/high school: Wappingers Falls, New York; Roy C. Ketchum
Major: Environmental Studies
B.S. in 1992
Activities while at ESF: Alumni Weekend, SU Scuba Club, Friday afternoon happy hour, SU basketball and football games, formal basketball clubs.
Awards or honors at ESF: Operation of the waste water treatment plant for the paper and pulp machines as part of research my senior year.
After ESF: I had a scholarship to return for the paper science program, but I started my career instead.
NOW
Residence: Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Family: my wife, Susan LeRoy, 11-year old daughter, Payton LeRoy and our 2-year old dog, Rosie.
Career: currently the statewide infection control director for Corizon Health; epidemiologist for the State of Pennsylvania, health officer for the State of Maryland, director of health and human services for the City of Danbury, Connecticut, environmental hygienist for the Town of Greenwich and wastewater treatment plant operator for the State of New York Department of Corrections.
Hobbies: playing basketball and tennis with my daughter, playing with my dog, walking along the beach and going to small towns throughout Delaware and Maryland.
Professional or personal distinctions: earned the Certified Correctional Health Professional, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, Certified Environmental Professional and Soil Scientist designations.
I have also worked for ESF as an alumni representative at college nights in Connecticut and Maryland to help recruit students to ESF. I loved my time at ESF and definitely wish it was a four-year college when I was applying to colleges in 1988!
Emily Hall ’15
THEN
Hometown/high school: Copiague (Long Island, New York)/Copiague High School
Major: Conservation Biology (Minor: Marketing at Syracuse University)
Bachelor of Science, 2015
Activities while at ESF: Student Ambassadors, Society for Conservation Biology
Awards or honors at ESF: Honors Program, Alpha Xi Sigma Honor Society
After ESF: Duke University, Masters of Environmental Management (specialized in Coastal Environmental Management)
NOW
Residence: Long Island, New York
Family: engaged to Michael Hadzopulos, two dogs and one cat
Career: Conservation policy advocate at Seatuck Environmental Association
Hobbies: Beach volleyball, gardening, cooking, travel
My time at ESF was tremendously valuable both personally and professionally. Not only did I learn fundamentals in the environmental field that set me up for a very rewarding career in conservation but I also met some lifelong friends along the way!
Isaac Pruch ’18
THEN
Hometown/high school: Bolivar, New York/Bolivar High School
Major: Bioprocess Engineering
B.S., 2018
Activities while at ESF: Cross country team
Awards or honors at ESF: during my freshman year I was on the XC team when we won the USCAA National Championship.
NOW
Residence: Syracuse, New York
Family: partner Teagan Peacock (SU ‘18) and two cats, Joanie and Ginger
Career: Laboratory scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Hobbies: Rock climbing, running, camping, hiking
My time at ESF meant a lot to me, both on and off campus. The friends that I made there are some of the most incredible and interesting people I know and I care about them dearly.
Ilana Weinstein ’18
THEN
Hometown/high school: Bronx, New York; High School of American Studies at Lehman College
Major: Conservation Biology; minor: Native Peoples and the Environment
BS, Class of 2018
Activities while at ESF: EcoReps, Green Campus Initiative, ESF FORCES, Interp. Club, SEEK
Awards or honors at ESF: SUNY ESF Presidential Scholarship, Academic Honors Program
After ESF: I pursued my master’s degree in Environmental Conservation Education at New York University. I graduated in December of 2020.
NOW
Residence: Bronx, New York. I wanted to come home and give back to my community using the knowledge that I gained while at ESF.
Family: I am married to ESF alum Matti Hollo ‘18. We live in the Bronx and have a dog named Oaklee. We met during our first year at ESF, and the rest is history!
Career: my first job out of ESF was as an urban park ranger for the NYC Parks Department. I was an urban park ranger for two and a half years, where I led tours for school groups and the public, conducted wildlife rescues, and did minor law enforcement. Now, I am the program manager for the Seeds to Trees middle school ecology program for City Parks Foundation. As program manager, I lead the middle school lessons, evaluate and adjust the curriculum to fit my students’ needs, and lead teacher professional development workshops so that teachers can feel comfortable incorporating environmental and outdoor education into their regular curriculum. My education at ESF helped provide the best knowledge for my career as an environmental educator. I regularly use knowledge and skills gained at ESF to connect NYC youth to NYC Parks.
Hobbies: hiking, kayaking, and crafting. I spin yarn, knit, crochet, and design jewelry.
Professional or personal distinctions: I have recently joined the advisory committee of the Environmental Education Advisory Council of NYC (EEAC NYC), where I am part of a team of environmental educators from organizations throughout NYC setting the standards for urban environmental thought, creating networking and inter-agency connections, and creating the best possible environmental experiences for our urban youth.
ESF provided an amazing learning opportunity to be around so many faculty and students who care so deeply about what they do. The enthusiasm of the ESF community is something that is hard to find anywhere else. I am so glad to have met my best friends and my husband there.