About:

Paul Rivers is a senior at CUNY Hunter College, majoring in Environmental Policy and Management and Special Honors. He is an active member of his academic community, participating in the Thomas Hunter Honors Program, McNair Scholars Program, Black Male Initiative and is a recipient of the Mother’s Day Scholarship program. He has conducted numerous research projects analyzing environmental problems related to New York City, including infrastructure risk through FEMA flooding zones, the Million Tree’s Project and its impact on greenspace in the urban cityscape, and community park usage in Harlem. Paul’s environmental awareness is greatly advised by urban planning and using public spaces to effect broader climate change awareness. His positions at the CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities and the Environmental Defense Fund have inspired him to use public policy as a tool for environmental stewardship. His senior thesis capstone will explore the feasibility for greenroofs and policy adaption to address the urban heat island problem in New York City. He has recently presented at the McNair Scholar’s Research Conference in Washington D.C on the utility of the multi-purpose levee development proposal ‘Seaport City’ to address impacts from storm surge and flooding. Paul is currently applying to graduate Doctoral and Masters Programs in Urban Planning and Environmental Psychology.