Staff
John Cronin
Dear Friends,
Today I joined Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy and the leadership of Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries and Clarkson University at a news conference at Denning’s Point to announce a bold new alliance of the two institutions. It was the culmination of discussions that Clarkson President Tony Collins and I began 20 months ago. I announced as well that I am leaving the directorship of Beacon Institute to again pursue my first loves – policy, teaching and writing.
I have accepted a faculty position as the first Beacon Institute fellow at Clarkson University. My dual appointment at Clarkson and Pace University, where I serve as senior fellow for environmental affairs at the Pace Academy for Applied Environmental Studies, allows me singular opportunities. I will help lead the Policy, Information and Innovation Project, a collaborative initiative of Clarkson, Pace and Beacon Institute that will bring together some of the world’s best technological, legal and educational talent to develop the next generation of water policy, information networking, and environmental leadership.
Tim Sugrue, dean of Clarkson's School of Business, succeeds me as Beacon Institute CEO. Tim brings fresh skill, intelligence, energy, and ideas. He and I have developed a fond and dynamic working relationship. We are equally committed to Beacon Institute becoming a global center for innovation and solutions that meets the 21st century challenges of water protection, management and economic development.
While director and CEO of Beacon Institute I had the thrill of helping it grow from an idea to an innovation leader. I worked with a tremendously talented staff, a dedicated board of trustees, and experts who generously shared their vast knowledge. In a short period, we built an organization from scratch, created the River and Estuary Observatory Network and SENSE IT, constructed the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education, and established creative collaborations ranging from IBM to the region’s colleges and universities. It is not easy leaving the director’s chair, but the road ahead is too exciting to ignore.
Thanks to all of you who have given your support and provided so much to the development of Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries. I promise you will be proud to be part of this new chapter . . . and the amazing innovations yet to come.
See you soon,
John
John Cronin
Beacon Institute Fellow at Clarkson University
Senior Fellow in Environmental Affairs
Pace University
