Meet the Director
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects
Since 1997, Pete Conroy has served as the Director of Jacksonville State University's Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects, formerly called the Environmental Policy and Information Center (EPIC). Trained as a biologist, Mr. Conroy moved to Alabama in 1985 to work as the curator of the Anniston Museum of Natural History.
Since then, he has received appointments from Alabama Governors Kay Ivey (R), Bob Riley (R), Don Siegelman (D), Fob James (R), Jim Folsom (D) and Guy Hunt (R). Retained by President George Bush, Pete received White House appointments by President Bill Clinton in 1999 to serve as Alternate U.S. Federal Commissioner of the Tri-State (ACT/ACF) Water Compacts. He was also selected by the Office of the Secretary of the Army to serve on an Operational Assessment Team to review safety measures relating to the destruction of chemical materials in Alabama. Conroy may be the best known for his interest in public lands, leading to the following designations.- Little River Canyon National Preserve - Bush, 1992
- Dugger Mountain Wilderness - Clinton, 2000
- Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge - Bush, 2005
- Freedom Riders National Monument - Obama, 2017
Additionally, Pete leads a number of projects related to conservation and economic development. Examples include the establishment and operation of the Little River Canyon Center, the Talladega Mountain Center, Longleaf Studios and entertainment complex, the re-use of the former Fort McClellan, the Chief Ladiga Rail-Trail, and several Alabama-based initiatives promoting smart growth, environmental education, arts, conservation, tourism, water policy and sustainable hospitality.
Born in Pennsylvania, Pete moved to Asheville, North Carolina with his family in 1970. He later received his Bachelor's degree in biology from Furman University in South Carolina and his Master's Degree in zoology from the Univeristy of Georgia.
With his wife Roxana and son Mitch, Pete lives in Jacksonville, Alabama. His daughter Haley lives nearby, in Centre.