Meet the Founding Director
- Director Emeritus, Jacksonville State University
- Special Advisor, Little River Canyon Center
- Commissioner, Alabama Educational Television Commission
- Chair, Freedom Rider Park Board, Inc.
Retired in September 2025 from his full-time position that started in 1997, Pete Conroy has served as the Director of Jacksonville State University's Office of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects, formerly called the Environmental Policy and Information Center (EPIC).
Trained as a biologist, Conroy moved to Alabama in 1985 to work as the curator of the Anniston Museum of Natural History. Since then, he moved towards additional public service of a different nature receiving various appointments from Alabama Governors Kay Ivey (R), Bob Riley (R), Don Siegelman (D), Fob James (R), Jim Folsom (D) and Guy Hunt. On a federal level, Pete was retained by President George Bush, after receiving White House appointments by President Bill Clinton in 1999 to serve as Alternate U.S. Federal Commissioner of the Tri-State (ACT/ACF) Water Compacts.
His interests have varied widely, exampled from his selection to serve on an Operational Assessment Team by the Office of the Secretary of the Army reviewing safety measures related to the destruction of chemical warfare materials, to his role with the McClellan Joint Powers Authority, championing the development of the Center for Domestic Preparedness. Through his partnerships and focus, Conroy has led several efforts, but he may be best known for his interest in public lands, resulting in the following designations.
- Little River Canyon National Preserve - Bush, 1992
- Dugger Mountain Wilderness - Clinton, 2000
- Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge - Bush, 2005
- Freedom Riders National Monument - Obama, 2017
Conroy’s primary focus has been on projects that benefit conservation and economic development. Examples include the establishment and operation of the Little River Canyon Center in Fort Payne, the Talladega Mountain Center near Centre, Longleaf Studios in Jacksonville, the re-use of the former Fort McClellan in Anniston, and the establishment of the Chief Ladiga Rail-Trail. Other areas of interest include Alabama-based initiatives promoting public television, environmental education, arts, conservation, civil rights, tourism, water policy and sustainable hospitality.
Born in Pennsylvania, Pete moved to Asheville, North Carolina with his family in 1970. He later received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Furman University in South Carolina and his master’s degree in zoology from the University of Georgia. In January of 2026 he was granted Director Emeritus status by JSU.
With his wife Roxana and son Mitch, Pete lives in Jacksonville, Alabama. His daughter Haley lives nearby, in Centre.