Judith Enck ’81: A Career Defending the Environment Started at Saint Rose

When Kenneth Mapp, governor of the Virgin Islands, wanted help recovering from the devastation left by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, he called Judith Enck ‘81. As former administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Region 2, Enck oversaw New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and could offer Mapp expert advice on dealing with the water pollution and debris in the hurricanes’ wake, as well as the air pollution resulting from diesel generators.

“He called and asked me to help out after the first hurricane hit, so I traveled to the Virgin Islands for two weeks,” Enck said. “What made it challenging was there was no phone and limited Internet. So, when I got home, I kept working on hurricane issues – it’s so much easier when you have phone and Internet access!” She continues to provide recovery guidance to the devastated islands and Puerto Rico, all of which are beginning the daunting process of rebuilding their infrastructure.

Read more about Enck’s work in the hurricane-damaged regions, in protecting the environment, and how she got her start at Saint Rose.