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“My father thought I would make a good lawyer, but I wanted to go into theater,” recalled Stephen Kelleher ’81. He later quipped, “After my first year at Salem State, I realized theater wasn’t my skill set.”
Kelleher eventually fell into a political science major after finding his community in the Student Government Association, where he rose from senator to president. “Between school, social activities and work, I kept myself busy during my time at Salem State. I had to bartend my way through school to make ends meet, which was a lot of fun but also a lot of work,” recalled Kelleher.
Kelleher’s life trajectory has taken him many places since graduation, eventually leading him to the consulting and engineering firm Tetra Tech ARD, where he is the chief of party managing the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development program—a role based in West Africa that combats illegal wildlife and endangered species trafficking, reduces forest and biodiversity loss, increases coastal resilience, and builds capacity in the region for low-carbon emission strategies.
EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS
His journey to West Africa began in 1983 as a Peace Corps volunteer. Originally assigned as an agricultural education volunteer, Kelleher laughed, “What did I know about agriculture? I only had a backyard garden.” He goes on to reminisce about his life-changing experience in Benin and how the program changed his entire perspective on life. Soon after, he researched forestry schools and wound up graduating from Yale’s School of the Environment with a master’s degree in environmental management.
“I was always engaged with environmental groups, even back in high school. I think my nature has always been more hands-on, and I really wanted to understand forestry and its impact.”
After Yale, Kelleher interned for a think tank in Washington, D.C., which had an international program. They hired him as a consultant, and he jumped at the chance to travel back to West Africa. He was eventually introduced to the World Wildlife Fund, where he ascended to deputy director of global forest programs. There, he learned more about land tenure and the rights of women and Indigenous people. “I always say, even in my current job, I get paid to learn, which is pretty nice.”
Kelleher went on to work for the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Switzerland, where he managed a global program called Livelihoods and Landscapes, helping to aid forest governance and poverty reduction. Through this work in Liberia, he was introduced to Tetra Tech ARD and was assigned to a government-funded project focused on forest carbon markets and communities. Kelleher has an international resume that includes work in Indonesia, Nepal, Liberia, Switzerland, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Washington, D.C., and more.
TURNING PASSION INTO PURPOSE
“Coming from a middle-class background, I look back at the things I’ve done and the places I’ve lived and think, ‘Wow!’ I want people to know that if international development and working with diverse cultures interests you, and you have the passion, you can do it too.”
Kelleher continues to give credit to Salem State when it comes to his career preparation. “Working in student government was pretty key in my development. In terms of learning to lead, meeting with diverse groups, political networking, managing budgets, interacting with university leadership and senior management, it was all important.”
“I have really good memories of Salem State,” Kelleher recalled. “I still have some lifelong friends, and if there is any small way I can give back, then I’m happy to do it.”
FOOTNOTE: Since we first spoke with Stephen, there have been changes in U.S. foreign assistance, which may result in the closure of the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development program. He noted, “We hope that solutions can be found to address vital environmental issues until lasting governance and budgetary systems are in place.”
Pictured above: A yearbook photo of Stephen (second from top) and other members of the Student Government Association at a student conference in Washington, D.C. alongside a photo of Stephen during his travels.
