Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Tuesday announced former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley has joined the University to develop and head HU’s Center for Environment, Energy and Economy.

Quigley, the first and only person in the history of Pennsylvania to serve as Secretary of DEP and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, also will lecture in sustainability at Harrisburg University.

Quigley will serve as director of the Center, which aims to change practices in business and government to improve the environment and advance sustainability.

“This is such a unique opportunity to help shape policy and help  companies that want to improve their environmental performance and make money at the same time. There is a huge demand for sustainable practices,” Quigley said. “I think the space that the center wants to be in involves helping companies solve environmental problems, and helping government with better and smarter uses of data in making environmental and energy policy decisions.  I think the next generation of environmental policy will be data driven.”

Quigley served as DEP Secretary from January 2015 through May 2016 under Gov. Tom Wolf. He was Secretary of DCNR from 2009-2011 under former Gov. Ed Rendell.

He previously worked in a number of leadership positions at DCNR, and in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors.

He founded a downtown revitalization nonprofit, served eight years as the mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was an instructor in economics at a branch campus of Penn State University, wrote a newspaper column for a northeast Pennsylvania newspaper, worked as government relations manager with a statewide environmental nonprofit organization, held management positions with manufacturing companies, and operated a small business, providing consulting services to state/national/international NGO’s, foundations, state/foreign governments, and private industry.

A graduate of Bloomsburg University with a degree in economics, Quigley holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Lehigh University. He also has completed additional graduate work in economics.

The sustainability know-how, business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit Quigley brings will help HU spearhead meaningful sustainability and business change, said HU President Dr. Eric Darr.

“John’s background speaks for itself. And we are excited to welcome him to HU,” Darr said. “Under John’s direction, the center will help shape environmental and sustainability policy in a way that will benefit the environment and help businesses improve their bottom lines.”

The University’s real-world application of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math disciplines, coupled with its entrepreneurial spirit, are what Quigley said attracted him to HU.

Quigley, who also is a Senior Fellow at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, will convene a group of working faculty who will serve on the center’s steering committee.

The committee will help map out a strategy for the center.

“In my travels, HU is unique. There is a focus on real-world applications in a very direct way here,” he said. “There is a very entrepreneurial spirit at HU. The University’s focus  is  on moving the needle. The University’s hunger to get in and solve problems is very unique and very exciting to me.”

For more information, visit the Harrisburg University website.

[Posted: August 29, 2017]

9/4/2017