The SUNY New Paltz Distinguished Speaker for the spring 2017 semester is environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the late U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy was an apprentice and close friend to New Paltz Emeritus Professor of biology Heinz Meng, whose innovative methods breeding peregrine falcons in captivity are widely credited with helping save that species from extinction. Kennedy, an avid falconer, spoke on campus at a memorial to Meng on Sept. 25, 2016, following Meng’s passing on Aug. 13.
Kennedy will present an address titled “Our Environmental Destiny,” an important reminder of the role natural resources play in our work, our health and our national identity. The lecture will take place on Monday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Lecture Center room 100.
Update: As of March 9, this event is SOLD OUT. No additional tickets will be made available for sale.
Due to the overwhelming response to Kennedy’s apperance, the College has opened up additional rooms in the Lecture Center to broadcast the event live. Seating in Lecture Center 100 is limited, and guests will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. When Lecture 100 reaches maximum occupancy, guests will be directed to adjacent rooms where the event will be broadcast live in high definition.
Will Call tables open at 6:30 p.m. in the Lecture Center lobby on March 13, 2017. Will Call tickets may also be picked up in advance at the Parker Theatre Box Office March 6 – 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For further information and to reserve tickets, please visit http://www.newpaltz.edu/speakerseries/ or call (845) 257-3880.
All guests are welcome to attend the post-event reception and book signing.
About Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy has worked for years as an advocate for environmental causes, and much of that work has been based in and around the Hudson Valley.
As chief prosecuting attorney for Riverkeeper, he has been tireless in his efforts to clean and restore the Hudson River, and was named a “Hero of the Planet” by Time Magazine in recognition of his successes. The Riverkeeper model has been adopted and expanded by the more than 300 organizations that make up the Waterkeeper Alliance, which Kennedy serves as president of the Board of Directors.
About the Distinguished Speaker Series
Launched in 2008, the Distinguished Speaker Series hosts speakers twice annually in order to connect SUNY New Paltz alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members with highly accomplished alumni, authors, policy makers, leaders, scientists, media experts, business people and other luminaries.
The spring 2017 Distinguished Speaker event is supported by the generosity of the following presenting sponsors: Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa, Campus Auxiliary Services, the Capital Group, the Dorsky Family & the Dorsky Foundation, Liberty Mutual Insurance, M&T Bank, Sodexo, the SUNY New Paltz Foundation and Viking Industries.
