Rodrigo Pinto

Rodrigo joined HVA in April of 2023 after working with the Connecticut River Conservancy, Roaring Brook Nature Center, Connecticut River Museum, and Worldwatch Institute. He researched and taught matters such as ecological policymaking with Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), Michigan State University, and the University of Maryland—where he also ‘Ph.inisheD.’ a (doctoral) degree in Government and Politics with environmental politics as one of his two specialties. Rodrigo completed an oceanographic graduate certificate in tropical coastal management at the Federal University of Pernambuco (Brazil) as well as an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics at the University of Richmond. He interned with The Nature Conservancy on governmental relations and with the Brazilian Embassy on environmental concerns. Rodrigo serves as Board Member and Sanctuary Chairperson on a U.S. chapter network of BirdLife International. He served on the Board of the Keney Park Sustainability Project as well. Rodrigo volunteers with the Torrington Trails Network for the John Brown birthplace, Hartford Deportation Defense, and a Beach Access campaign of the Surfrider Foundation for its CT chapter. He has also done ethnic-racial work with the Athletics unit at Connecticut College, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, ECSU co-curricular units including one where he was an academic probation advisor for students of color, and two civic associations in CT that remedy an ethno-racially disproportionate mass incarceration. The rare biological and human diversities of the Housatonic watershed inspire him to protect them well into future generations such as that of his beloved daughter and son.