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Brendan DeMelle `98

Hometown: 
Lakeville, CT

At St. Lawrence

Major: 
Environmental Studies and Sociology

St. Lawrence’s double-major option, extensive study abroad program, and proximity to outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities in the Adirondack region were immediate attractions for Brendan. He had enjoyed Russian history and language classes in high school, and planned to major in Russian at St. Lawrence. He continued to study Russian at St. Lawrence, and spent a semester abroad at Yaroslavl State University in Russia during his junior year. However, he was quickly drawn to environmental studies and sociology classes, and chose to focus his double-major in those areas. “I can’t say enough about the quality of the instructors and the curriculum offerings in Environmental Studies. Much of the material I learned is directly relevant to my professional work, and I still reach for my ENVS class notebooks and texts often, twelve years after graduation.” In his senior year, he was invited by Professor Glenn Harris to participate in a research project on the impacts of the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project. The resulting paper was ultimately published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Rural History, and Brendan was a co-recipient of the Josephine G. Mentley/St. Lawrence and North Country Studies Award.

After Graduation

Brendan launched his career with an internship at the Environmental Protection Agency as an environmental justice advocate in Seattle, before returning to his home state of Connecticut as a Campus Organizer with the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). From 2000-2005, he served as Corporate Lobbying Analyst and then Legal Analyst with Environmental Working Group in Washington, DC. In 2005, Brendan moved to New York to serve as Research Associate for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., with whom he continues to work. He also serves as researcher for Laurie David, Ring of Fire Radio, and many others in his current role as a freelance writer and researcher focused on energy, climate change and social media. Brendan has returned to St. Lawrence several times since graduation as a guest lecturer in Environmental Studies classes. “I owe my career to the Environmental Studies department at St. Lawrence. The amazing faculty and staff helped me to develop the skills and knowledge that I continue to rely on every day as a writer covering social and environmental issues.” Brendan’s work has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Grist Magazine, The Washington Times, Salon.com, AirAmerica.com, DeSmogBlog.com, EnergyBoom.com and elsewhere. He lives in Seattle with his wife Anne, and enjoys kayaking and exploring the Pacific Northwest.