Alumnus Named as Top 100 Influential

Billionaire alumnus Tom Steyer ‘75, was selected as one of the 100 most influential people by TIME magazine for his support and effort in environmental conservation.Al Gore, former U.S. vice president and the author of Steyer’s article, wrote that Steyer’s “extraordinary intellect, focused enthusiasm and the considerable wealth he earned in a wildly successful business career,” guided the battle for sustainability and the preservation of the environment.Steyer’s passionate involvement in the protection of the environment was recognized when he visited the Academy last fall; he gave a presentation on reducing dependence on fossil fuels, targeting the Keystone XL Pipeline Project, a proposal to transport crude oil upon completion more than 1,700 miles through an underground pipeline across northern Alberta, Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.Faculty members, alums and students alike felt that Steyer’s Assembly was a positive influence to the Academy.Religion instructor Kathleen Brownback said that his talk was thought-provoking. “Tom Steyer has been an inspiration to a lot of people on this issue. His talk in the fall made the analogy to the civil rights movement—that climate change has that kind of significance in our time,” Brownback said.Larry Silverman ‘63, who is part of an independent alumni driven organization that aims to help the Academy address the issues revolving sustainability, energy conservation and alternative energy, said that Steyer effectively outlined the magnitude of climate changes.“He very accurately and powerfully characterized the climate change and the environmental issues as the primary challenge of our era and of the current and future generations of students, at least for the next 50 to 100 years,” Silverman said.Additionally, along with his Assembly, Steyer also inspired various environmental clubs on campus such as the Environmental Action Committee (EAC). One of EAC’s main goals of the 2013-2014 school year was a divestment from fossil fuels campaign. Steyer was a large influence for this movement.Senior Charles Minicucci, one of the co-heads of EAC, explained how Steyer influenced them, although now EAC is focusing on different environmental conflicts. “Steyer was our inspiration  for divestment because of his hedge fund practices,” Minicucci said.Senior Justin Landowne, who suggested the idea to invite Steyer to Exeter and introduced him in the Assembly Oct. 22, added that although the EAC is moving on from the divestment of fossil fuels, it would still be glad to receive help from Steyer in future campaigns.“We would love to get involved with him in the future,” Landowne, who is also a co-head of EAC, said.Silverman said that Steyer’s devotion to saving the environment has played a pivotal role in building potential for a change in the way the environment is treated by our society and in taking the issue of climate change and fossil fuels to a national level.