Duke Environmental Leadership Program
DEL Staff
Deborah Rigling Gallagher, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Environmental
Policy and Executive Director of the Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Deb is from Marblehead, Massachusetts. She lives in Carrboro with her
husband John and her daughter, Siobhan. In her free time she sings
soprano in a chamber choir, skis (not in North Carolina!) and watches
Siobhan dance. Deb's research examines the influence of stakeholders
on business sustainability practices, environmental management system
design and deployment and public/private partnerships for environmental
policy implementation. Recent work has focused on small business sustainability
behavior and brownfields partnerships. Deb holds a PhD in Public Policy
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MA of Public
Policy from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, and BS
in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University.
To contact Deb, call (919) 613-8138 or e-mail deb.gallagher@duke.edu.
Sherri Nevius, Program Director, Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Sherri came to the Nicholas School in 1998 to pursue a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) degree. Ten years later she’s back to take on a new career challenge. Sherri is the Program Director of the Duke Environmental Leadership (DEL) Program, which includes an online and on-campus MEM degree for working environmental professionals, executive education courses, and environmental community outreach. Prior to coming to Duke, she worked for URS Corporation in Morrisville, NC as a project manager consulting on projects related to Environmental Management Systems development and implementation, environmental compliance, environmental training, and emergency planning reporting. Sherri is also a co-chair and member of the NC Society of Women Environmental Professionals (SWEP), a national non-profit professional association of women involved or interested in environmental law, science, business, and policy. Sherri grew up in Wisconsin, went to Iowa for an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Politics at Cornell College, and then moved to North Carolina to go to the Nicholas School and has made North Carolina her new home. Her husband, 2 boys, and 3 dogs keep her busy, but finds time to bike, garden, and do home improvement projects.
To contact Sherri, call (919) 613-8063 or e-mail sherri.nevius@duke.edu.
Contact Sherri for information about the DEL-Master of Environmental Management degree, including program content and format, application and admissions procedures, tuition and financial aid.
Jennifer Nelson, Program Coordinator, Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Jen joined the Duke Environmental Leadership (DEL) Program in January 2007. She brings teaching experience from both the traditional and non-traditional classroom to coordinate and assist executive education courses and community outreach activities. A graduate of the joint MEM/MAT program at Duke University in 2002/2003, she has most recently used her degrees to teach K-12 students about environmental education in an urban estuary at the Meadowlands Environment Center in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Originally from Maryland, Jen obtained a B.S. degree from University of Maryland in 1997, majoring in marine biology. Her favorite pastimes can be described as dichotomous in nature; enjoying hiking with her two retrievers, Bailey and Campbell, as well as exploring new shopping destinations.
To contact Jen, call (919) 613-8700 or e-mail jen.nelson@duke.edu.
Contact Jen for information about continuing and executive education
courses, including custom training programs, NEPA courses and certificate
programs.
Melissa Stephens, Program Assistant, Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Melissa joined the Duke Environmental Leadership (DEL) Program in May 2007. With a strong interest and experience in non-formal environmental education, Melissa organizes and facilitates the Community Outreach program as well as coordinating and assisting in the administration the Executive Education program and the DEL-Master of Environmental Management degree program. Melissa is originally from Virginia, where she received her B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Mary Washington College in 2004 and is a 2007 graduate from the Nicholas School MEM program. In her free time, Melissa enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and spending time with friends.
To contact Melissa, call (919) 613-8715 or email melissa.stephens@duke.edu.
Contact Melissa for information about special projects and events, including community outreach programs.
Emily Guirl, Staff Assistant, Duke Environmental Leadership Program
Emily joined the Duke Environmental Leadership (DEL) Program in February 2008. With her background in environmental education, Emily helps organize and facilitate the Executive Education program as well as assisting in the administration and development of the DEL-Master of Environmental Management degree program. Emily grew up in the Midwest and received her B.A. degree in Sociology from Oberlin College in Ohio. New to the area, Emily prefers the sunshine of North Carolina over dreary Midwest weather. Emily enjoys hiking, bicycling, baking pies, and making music as often as she can.
To contact Emily, call (919) 613-8082 or email emily.guirl@duke.edu. Emily is the first point of contact for the DEL Office. Contact Emily for general inquiries and information about all DEL programs, including registration, directions, and payment.
