The William D. Ruckelshaus Center will virtually host two former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrators, Lisa P. Jackson and William K. Reilly, at its 10th annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon, Friday, Sept. 11, via the Center’s YouTube channel.
The event also includes a celebration of the late Bill Ruckleshaus, the Center’s Founder and Chair Emeritus.
Featured speakers
Since 2011, the Ruckelshaus Center has hosted its Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon to express gratitude to its most dedicated supporters, Ruckelshaus Circle donors, and as a forum of knowledge on topics relevant to the center’s mission. The event has featured noteworthy authors, politicians, journalists, and political analysts, from former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to author and historian Douglas Brinkley and former NPR All Things Considered host Robert Siegel.
This year’s event features former EPA Administrators Jackson and Reilly, who will discuss “The Past, Present, and Future of Environmental Protection.”
Jackson currently serves as Apple’s VP of environment, policy and social initiatives, overseeing Apple’s efforts to minimize its impact on the environment. From 2009 to 2013, Jackson served as administrator of the EPA. Appointed by President Barack Obama, she focused on reducing greenhouse gases, protecting air and water quality, preventing exposure to toxic contamination and working for environmental justice.
Reilly served four U.S. Presidents: Presidents Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and Obama, and was EPA Administrator from 1989 to 1993, during which he led efforts to pass a new Clean Air Act and headed the U.S. delegation to the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio.
Celebration of 50th anniversary, Center’s founder
This event will also commemorate the EPA’s 50th anniversary, and celebrate the life and career of Bill Ruckelshaus, the EPA’s first and fifth administrator.
Created in the wake of elevated concern about environmental pollution, the EPA was established on Dec. 2, 1970 to consolidate a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities relating to environmental protection.
Ruckelshaus was committed to addressing environmental issues and public policy challenges through collaborative approaches. This commitment would lead him to become founder and advisory board chair of the William D. Ruckelshaus Center.
In 2004, Ruckelshaus created the William D. Ruckelshaus Center as a partnership between Washington State University and the University of Washington. Hosted by WSU Extension, the Center helps bring university expertise to bear to help community members, business leaders and government decision makers collaboratively tackle complex, and often, controversial, policy challenges.
RSVP to the Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon by Sept. 10. Visit the Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon website or call 206-428-3021 for more information.
Attendance is free. Register online at the Center’s website.
Visit the Center’s Youtube channel here.