Museum founder appointed as DEC director

May 10, 2007

Reprinted with permission from the Daily Gazette , May 10, 2007

By Jim McGuire

The appointment of Elizabeth "Betsy" Lowe as director of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 5 drew endorsements Wednesday from Adirondack groups.

Lowe is a founder and managing director of the Natural History Museum/Wild Center in Tupper Lake and before that worked for DEC for 20 years. Her appointment was announced Wednesday by DEC Commissioner Alexander "Pete" Grannis.

Region 5 encompasses eight counties including Fulton and Saratoga and includes most of the Adirondack Park.

John Sheehan, spokesman for the Adirondack Council, called Lowe "well organized and a good administrator," and said "environmentally her heart is in the right place." Sheehan said Lowe will do "very well as Region 5 director," and noted "she worked very hard to get the museum up and running."

At the North Creek-based Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, Executive Director Peter Bauer called Lowe "a strong choice."

"She has extensive experience at DEC where she worked for 20 years. I hope she brings with her a zeal to reform the DEC, especially when it comes to Forest Preserve management," he said. Grannis, her new boss, said in a news release: "Betsy will be a tremendous asset as we work with North Country communities to protect and enhance our natural resources, local economies, and increase recreational opportunities."

Grannis credited her with an ability to build strong partnerships, help parties find common ground and spearhead projects that will increase public awareness and appreciation of the Adirondacks.

Lowe, who also serves as vice president of the museum board, began working on the museum project in 1998.

She was involved in the oversight of the museum's budget, design and contractors, recruitment of staff, and program planning. In 2001, Lowe received the "Adirondack Communicator of the Year" award from the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board.

Before starting the Wild Center, Lowe served for nearly 20 years with DEC, building an extensive background in environmental management, community development, public relations and administrative policy. Her positions at DEC included citizen participation specialist, environmental management specialist and mined land reclamation specialist. While at DEC, Lowe worked with diverse interest groups and organizations including the Adirondack Council, New York State Conservation Council, Adirondack Economic Development Corporation, and the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages, among others on cooperative initiatives including the Region 5 Open Space Conservation Advisory Committee recommendations.

Lowe graduated from Skidmore College, where she received undergraduate degrees in biology and music, concentrating on the study of the mechanisms of plants, and received her master's degree in regional planning from Cornell University. While studying at Cornell, Lowe researched the state of the region's natural attributes and resources in the Adirondack Park. She has lived for the past 22 years in the Adirondacks, currently in Lake Placid, and has family ties to the region going back more than 100 years.

Lowe replaces Stuart Buchanan, who served for 12 years. Sheehan had praise for Buchanan, as well.

"For a guy who came in with only political credentials, he established environmental credentials pretty quick," Sheehan said.

At the museum, Stephanie Radcliffe, director of operations and programs since 2002, will succeed Lowe.