Conover has been the education director at Clearwater since 2007. His extensive knowledge of the Hudson River, experience sailing on the sloop, and in-depth understanding of the organization’s work in education and environmental initiatives make him a perfect fit to lead the organization until the search for an executive director can be launched, Clearwater officials said.
He first joined Clearwater in 1991 as an onboard educator and has since worked in various roles for the organization. Conover received a bachelor's degree in forest biology from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a master's in environmental studies with a teaching certification from Antioch University New England.
In addition, Conover has experience working on American shad research in the Connecticut River, water treatment for the state Department of Environmental Protection and environmental education at the Ashokan Center.
He is a long-term adjunct instructor at Marist College in Poughkeepsie and supervises Clearwater’s new microplastic research project.
“I'm grateful to everyone who has rallied to help Clearwater recently. Our focus now is to get the resources we need to complete the restoration the sloop and get her sailing again. The Clearwater is such an important symbol of both the river's renewal and Pete Seeger's environmental legacy that it's simply impossible to imagine a Hudson River without the sloop," said Conover.
Conover takes over for former Executive Director Peter Gross, who resigned last month.
For more information about Clearwater, visit www.clearwater.org.
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